Bumblebees as main pollinators: analysis of the biodiversity, genetic structure and pathogen incidence in the Iberian Peninsula

Bumble bees (genus Bombus Latreille, 1802) are very important pollinators of both wild vegetation and agricultural crops globally. Recently, it has been reported a decrease of their populations in several regions of North America, UK, Sweden, etc. In the Iberian peninsula despite the lack of a detailed assessment of the current biodiversity of bumblebees, population decline has been detected in same species.

In this sense, we aim to compare the current and historical distribution of bumblebee species present in key areas with high bumblebee biodiversity. We will also analyse the population genetic structure and the level of pathogenic and viral infection in these bumblebee populations. A reduced genetic diversity and a higher prevalence of pathogens would be predictors of pattern decline as observed in other areas. This multidisciplinary study aims to provide clues about the causes and effects related to the current situation of loss of pollinators insects biodiversity.

Research team

Principal Investigator

Dr. Pilar De la Rúa

Scientific staff

Dr. Concepción Ornosa

Dr. Mariano Higes

Dr. Félix Torres

Dr. Irene Muñoz

Communications to Congresses

Ornosa C., De la Rúa P., Torres F. Are Pyrenean bumblebees (Hymenoptera, Apidae) declining? 6th European Conference of Apidology. Murcia (Spain). 2014

Muñoz I., Hernández Mármol D., Martínez López V., García Villena M., Jara L., Ornosa C., De la Rúa P. Intraspecific bumblebee diversity: a case study of Bombus pascuorum (Hymenoptera, Apidae) in the Iberian peninsula. 6th European Conference of Apidology. Murcia (Spain). 2014

Cejas D., Martínez López V., Ornosa C., De la Rúa P., Muñoz I. Genetic diversity of the endemic Iberian bumblebee Bombus terrestris lusitanicus (Hymenoptera, Apidae). 6th European Conference of Apidology. Murcia (Spain). 2014

Rodríguez-García C., Higes M., De la Rúa P., Martín-Hernández R. Comparative analysis of different methods for gDNA extraction and detection of Nosema ceranae, Nosema apis and Nosema bombi. 6th European Conference of Apidology. Murcia (Spain). 2014

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