Enhancing Genetic Diversity in the U.S. Honey Bee Gene Pool

Transcription

1 Rising Tide Seminar Enhancing Genetic Diversity in the U.S. Honey Bee Gene Pool Susan Cobey

2 Endemic Range Apis mellifera Diversity carnica macedonica Honey bees are Endemic to Europe, Africa & Central Asia (1 6 da ys ) (2 1 d ay s) (2 4 da ys ) 28 recognized subspecies

3 The first honey bees imported to the US were the dark bee of Northern Europe, Apis mellifera mellifera Colonies were established in Virginia by Dispersed and established widely in the countryside ahead of human colonial expansion.

4 Historical Importations of Italian bees 1859 First importation of A. m. ligustica. Sourced from Johann Dzierzon s apiary in Germany A. m. ligustica imported directly from Italy to the U.S. Samual Parsons with beekeeping assistance from L. L. Langstroth.

5 A subset of these subspecies were brought to North America And were established to form the basis for current honey bee populations in the United States

6 1922 Honey Bee Act Restricted further importations in attempt to keep out tracheal mites

7 California Queen & Package Bee Industry Supplier of Queens & Bees to Re-Stock the Industry Nationwide Garvey

8 Also Responsible for Selection & Maintenance of Genetic Material

9 Garvey Increasing Challenges Loss of Diverse Forage Intensive Agricultural Practices Exposure to Chemical Residues Pests, Parasites & Pathogens Reduced Genetic Diversity

10 Increasing Challenges Malnutrition- Lack of Adequate and Diverse Forage Monoculture Crops Habitat Degradation Climate Change

11 Sub-lethal Effects Of Chemical Exposure Queen Effects: Mating, Signaling Egg production/laying Pre-mature supersedure Brood / Nutritional Effects: Inhibits bee bread microorganisms Delayed development Growth abnormalities Reduced longevity Increased morality Neurological Effects: Impaired visual sensory Reduced memory & learning performance Communication difficulties

12 Increasing Challenges Multiple Resident Pathogens Co-Exist In Colonies More Pathogenic In Association with Stressors Varroa, Nosema, Malnutrition, Chemical Residues Varying Tolerance / Susceptibility Among Colonies Changing Combinations of Pathogens & Conditions

13 Crisis Management Production Demands, Quick Fix Treatments

14 Changes In Commercial U.S. Honey Bee Stocks High Colony Losses Mid 1980 s - Tracheal Mites 1990 s & Continuing Varroa Mites 2000 s - CCD, Nosema ceranae, Viruses WSU Survey Of Commercial Queen Producers Schiff & Sheppard, 1995 & Delaney, Meixner, Schiff & Sheppard, % Loss of Alleles in 10 Yrs, to Gain of 10% - Russian, Australian, Africanized Garvey USDA- AIA Survey Winter Loss of Managed Colonies 21.7% Winter Loss % Winter Loss % Winter Loss % Winter Loss % Winter Loss % Winter Loss

15 26 Old World Honey Bee Subspecies Recognized A small subset introduced to establish Domestic US populations Honey Bee Act of 1922, Banned Importation Garvey Garvey

16 Genetic Bottlenecks of US Honey Bee Populations Founding Population A small subset sampling of several subspecies introduced before the 1922 Honey Bee Act Feral Population Eliminated by Parasitic mites Consolidation by Commercial Queen Production Mothers produce 1.5 million queens annually.

17 A Diverse Workforce Increases Colony Fitness Duong & Schneider, 2008 Mattila & Seeley, 2007 Jones, et.al., 2004 Page et al, 1995 Oldroyd, et.al., 1992,

18 A Diverse Workforce Reduces Prevalence, Severity of Disease & Pests Tarpy & Seeley, 2007, Seeley & Tarpy, 2007 Tarpy, 2003, Fuchs & Schade. 1994

19 Insemination Quality Affects Queen Performance MDI vs SDI Queen More Attractive Larger Retinue Response Mating Quality Changes: Queen Physiology, Pheromone Profiles, Social Interactions Richard, Tarpy, Grozinger, 2007

20 Mating Behavior Encourages Intra-Colony Genetic Diversity

21 Greater Microbial Communities Reduce Pathogen Loads Bacteria transform collected pollen into Bee Bread Garvey High intra-colony genetic diversity : Greater microbial diversity, Reduced pathogen loads. Increased abundance helpful bacteria Mattila et al 2012 Garvey

22 Genetic Diversity & Behavioral Mechanisms Compensate for Genome Deficiencies Few Genes for Immunity Increased Risk to Pests and Pathogens Few Genes for Detoxification Vulnerable to Pesticides Mechanisms of Resistance Ability to Detect and Remove Disease & Pests Propolis -Collection of plant resins with antimicrobial activity

23 UCD & WSU Collaborative Project Genetic Enhancement of Commercial Stocks Importation of Germplasm Transport of Honey Bee Semen Insemination to Domestic Queens

24 Goals for Germplasm Importation Enhance the genetic diversity of US honey bee populations Provide new raw material for selection and breeding efforts Reintroduce a previously available strain - the Caucasian honey bee

25 APHIS Importation Permit- Honey Bee Semen USDA-APHIS Quarantine Established WSU Ecological Preserve Smoot Hill Prairie 3 Year Permit A.m.ligustica From Italy A.m.carnica From Germany and Slovenia A.m.caucasica From Rep. of Georgia

26 Instrumental Insemination

27 USDA-APHIS Quarantine Apiary WSU Ecological Preserve Virus screening of semen & daughter workers by Beltsville USDA lab Released on a case by case basis by USDA- APHIS Propagation & Distribution to Cooperating Queen Producers

28 Importations from Italy Bari- 2008, 2009 Bologna Various Locations

29

30

31 New World Carniolan 1981-Present Page-Laidlaw Closed Population Breeding Program

32 Selection for General Performance Productivity Brood Viability Over-Wintering Temperament

33 Selection for Specific Traits of Resistance Hygienic Behavior Assay

34 Select Multiple Traits 1. Spring Queen Rearing &Insemination 2. Fall Pre-selection: Brood Viability Temperament Pollen/Honey Stores Disease/Parasites Hygienic Behavior 3. Over-wintering 4. Following Spring Final Selection: Spring Buildup Production Varroa Growth Brood Diseases

35 Traditional Beekeeping in Slovenia Apis mellifera carnica

36 Apis mellifera carnica

37 Semen Collection

38

39 Re-Establishing Apis mellifera caucasica from the Republic Of Georgia

40 Propolis - Resin Collection Social Immunity, Behavioral defense Reduces immune response Self medication Simone-Finstrom & Spivak, 2012 Evans & Spivak, 2010

41 The Road to Mestia

42 The Traffic

43 Roadside Beekeeping

44 Drone Collection

45 Resistance Mechanisms Variable Among Colonies Indicates Potential Highly Complex Partially Understood Constantly Changing Dependent Upon Nutritional Factors Management Practices Variation in Virulence of Varroa Variation in Susceptibility Combination with Associated Pathogens Auto Alo Drawings By O. Environmental Conditions Boecking

46 Cost vs Benefit Selection for Resistance vs Productivity Resistant Strains Less Productive Reduced Brood Production High Swarming Tendency Un-Selected Increased Costs Increased Labor Chemical Residues

47 Mechanisms of Resistance Involve Behavioral, Physiological & Beekeeper Management Olfactory Sensitivity - Detection & Removal Hygienic & Grooming Behavior Development Time Post-capping Stage Duration & Breaks In the Brood Cycle Re-Queening Dividing Colonies Inhibition of Varroa Reproduction Cuticular Hydrocarbons Garvey

48 Partnering With California Queen Producers

49 Collaborative Efforts Between Industry and Research Partnering with the Ca. Tech Transfer Team

50 Tech Transfer Specialized Classes To Promote Stock Improvement Queen Rearing Instrumental Insemination

51 Cryopreservation of Imported Semen Brandon Hopkins, WSU

52 Cryopreservation Techniques Multiple Generations of Queens Produced From Cyropreserved Semen in One Season Hopkins et al, 2012

53 Instrumental Insemination Semen Thawed Straws fit directly into the insemination system Each queen inseminated with 5 μl semen

54 Benefits of Germplasm Repository Simplify Stock Maintenance Conservation of Top Tier Stocks and Threatened Subspecies & Ecotypes Selection Across Time Rapid Stock Improvements

55 Long Term Goal.. National Honey Bee Germplasm Repository Conservation of Honey Bee Stocks Honey bee spermatozoa

56 Acknowledgements California Almond Board California State Beekeepers Assoc. National Honey Board American Beekeeping Federation Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees Garvey California Bee Breeders Association

57 Cooperating Researchers Steve Sheppard, WSU Brandon Hopkins, WSU Judy Chen, USDA Beltsville, Md. Michelle Flenniken, U of MT Marla Spivak, U of MN The CA. Tech Transfer Team Acknowledgements Cooperating Queen Producers Valerie Severson Pat Heitkem Jackie Burris-Park Rick Schubert Glenda & Shannon Wooten Pat & Bonnie Stayer Frank & Sheri Pendel Tom & Suki Glenn Koehnen & Sons, Inc. Leonard Pankrast Buzz Landon

58 Special Thanks to Elizabeth Frost Brian Fishback Tylan Selby Visiting Scholars Dr. Roger Beleen, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Brazil Dr. Jakub Gabka, Warsaw University, Poland Dr. John Pollard Dr. Claire Plante, GeneSafe Technologies, Canada Kathy Garvey, Photography

59

60

61

62

63

64

65 Questions?