Distribution of infectious and parasitic agents among three sentinel bee species across European agricultural landscapes
Infectious and parasitic agents (IPAs) and their associated diseases are major environmental stressors that jeopardize bee health, both alone and in interaction with other stressors. Their impact on pollinator communities can be assessed by studying multiple sentinel bee species. Our results suggest that the most frequent IPAs in adult bees are more appropriate for assessing the bees’ IPA exposure risk. We also report positive correlations of IPA loads supporting the potential IPA transmission among sentinels, suggesting careful consideration should be taken when introducing managed pollinators in ecologically sensitive environments.
Babin, A., Schurr, F., Delannoy, S. et al. Distribution of infectious and parasitic agents among three sentinel bee species across European agricultural landscapes. Sci Rep 14, 3524 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53357-w