CORVALLIS, Ore. — Oregon State University researchers have received a $500,000 grant to study the nutritional value of more than 100 bee-pollinated crops, native plants and commonly used ornamental plants.
The project aims to help scientists better understand the role of plant nutrition in the global decline of bee populations.
“With a better immune system, you’re stronger and more resilient. "It’s the same with bees. Nutrition is their first line of defense against stressors.”
Some flowers attract bees more than others, but whether those blooms contain the nutrients bees need most remains unclear. The research team, led by Ramesh Sagili, OSU associate professor of apiculture and Extension specialist, and Priyadarshini Chakrabarti, postdoctoral scholar in the OSU Honey Bee Lab, will build a database of macro- and micronutrients found in the plants they study.
Poor nutrition from habitat loss and large-scale monocropping is a major factor in bee population declines. The researchers hope that science-based information on plant nutrition will guide beekeepers, farmers, land managers and the public in choosing the most beneficial plants for both native and managed bees.
“With a better immune system, you’re stronger and more resilient,” Sagili said. “It’s the same with bees. Nutrition is their first line of defense against stressors.”
Optimal nutrition can help bees better withstand threats such as Varroa mites, pesticides, parasites and loss of habitat. It has been shown to improve resistance to stress, increase survival and promote longer lifespans, Chakrabarti said.
Despite extensive research into honey bee declines, relatively few studies have examined bee nutrition in depth. Efforts to improve forage and increase habitat for bees have grown in recent years, but many gaps remain.
Why farmers and beekeepers should care
In California, almond production is a $7 billion industry that depends heavily on honey bee pollination. Each February, about 75% of the nation’s managed honey bee hives are transported to the Central Valley for almond pollination. Before the almond bloom, bees have few natural pollen sources available.
“There might be some wild mustard or dandelion, but it’s really meager and there is no other source of pollen for bees,” Sagili said. “Farmers can help by planting supplemental forage near orchards and fields to give bees the additional nutrition they need.”
When natural forage is unavailable, beekeepers feed sugar syrup and protein supplements. While these can sustain bees short-term, they are not a substitute for a varied, nutrient-rich diet.
Investigating fungicide impacts on pollen quality
The project will also examine the effects of sterol biosynthesis inhibitor (SBI) fungicides on pollen nutrition and bee health. Pollen sterols — a type of lipid — are essential for honey bee development and growth.
Findings from the study will show how these commonly used fungicides may influence sterol availability in pollen and, for the first time, determine whether they could compromise pollen quality.
Previously titled OSU study will provide insight into optimal nutrition for bees
