The Experts below are selected from a list of 318 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Sydney A. Cameron - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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A scientific note on Nosema bombi infection intensity among different castes within a Bombus auricomus nest
Apidologie, 2017Co-Authors: Chia-ching Chu, Sydney A. CameronAbstract:Bumble bees (Bombus) provide vital services to agricultural and natural plant systems (Kremen et al. 2002; Fontaine et al. 2006). A survey across diverse North American Bombus species detected higher prevalence of infection by the microsporidian parasite Nosema bombi in declining relative to non-declining species, indicating a correlation between Nosema and Bombus population declines (Cameron et al. 2011). Although it has been shown in the laboratory that N. bombi infection is detrimental to the fitness of Bombus terrestris and Bombus lucorum (Otti and Schmid-Hempel 2007; Rutrecht and Brown 2009), much remains unclear regarding N. bombi’s ecology and how it interacts with Bombus in the field.
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rapid ecological replacement of a native bumble bee by invasive species
Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 2013Co-Authors: Carolina L Morales, Sydney A. Cameron, Marina P Arbetman, Marcelo A AizenAbstract:Despite rising global concerns over the potential impacts of non-native bumble bee (Bombus spp) introductions on native species, large-scale and long-term assessments of the consequences of such introductions are lacking. Bombus ruderatus and Bombus terrestris were sequentially introduced into Chile and later entered Argentina's Patagonian region. A large-scale survey in Patagonia reveals that, in 5 years post-arrival, the highly invasive B terrestris has become the most abundant and widespread Bombus species, and its southward spread is concurrent with the geographic retraction of the only native species, Bombus dahlbomii. Furthermore, a 20-year survey of pollinators of the endemic herb Alstroemeria aurea in northern Patagonia indicates that B ruderatus and B terrestris have replaced B dahlbomii, formerly the most abundant pollinator. Although the decline's underlying mechanisms remain unknown, the potential roles of exploitative competition and pathogen co-introduction cannot be ruled out. Given that in...
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patterns of range wide genetic variation in six north american bumble bee apidae Bombus species
Molecular Ecology, 2011Co-Authors: James P. Strange, Jeffrey D Lozier, Isaac Stewart, Sydney A. CameronAbstract:The increasing evidence for population declines in bumble bee (Bombus) species worldwide has accelerated research efforts to explain losses in these important pollinators. In North America, a number of once widespread Bombus species have suffered serious reductions in range and abundance, although other species remain healthy. To examine whether declining and stable species exhibit different levels of genetic diversity or population fragmentation, we used microsatellite markers to genotype populations sampled across the geographic distributions of two declining (Bombus occidentalis and Bombus pensylvanicus) and four stable (Bombus bifarius; Bombus vosnesenskii; Bombus impatiens and Bombus bimaculatus) Bombus species. Populations of declining species generally have reduced levels of genetic diversity throughout their range compared to codistributed stable species. Genetic diversity can be affected by overall range size and degree of isolation of local populations, potentially confounding comparisons among species in some cases. We find no evidence for consistent differences in gene flow among stable and declining species, with all species exhibiting weak genetic differentiation over large distances (e.g. >1000 km). Populations on islands and at high elevations experience relatively strong genetic drift, suggesting that some conditions lead to genetic isolation in otherwise weakly differentiated species. B. occidentalis and B. bifarius exhibit stronger genetic differentiation than the other species, indicating greater phylogeographic structure consistent with their broader geographic distributions across topographically complex regions of western North America. Screening genetic diversity in North American Bombus should prove useful for identifying species that warrant monitoring, and developing management strategies that promote high levels of gene flow will be a key component in efforts to maintain healthy populations.
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Patterns of range‐wide genetic variation in six North American bumble bee (Apidae: Bombus) species
Molecular ecology, 2011Co-Authors: Jeffrey D Lozier, James P. Strange, Isaac J. Stewart, Sydney A. CameronAbstract:The increasing evidence for population declines in bumble bee (Bombus) species worldwide has accelerated research efforts to explain losses in these important pollinators. In North America, a number of once widespread Bombus species have suffered serious reductions in range and abundance, although other species remain healthy. To examine whether declining and stable species exhibit different levels of genetic diversity or population fragmentation, we used microsatellite markers to genotype populations sampled across the geographic distributions of two declining (Bombus occidentalis and Bombus pensylvanicus) and four stable (Bombus bifarius; Bombus vosnesenskii; Bombus impatiens and Bombus bimaculatus) Bombus species. Populations of declining species generally have reduced levels of genetic diversity throughout their range compared to codistributed stable species. Genetic diversity can be affected by overall range size and degree of isolation of local populations, potentially confounding comparisons among species in some cases. We find no evidence for consistent differences in gene flow among stable and declining species, with all species exhibiting weak genetic differentiation over large distances (e.g. >1000 km). Populations on islands and at high elevations experience relatively strong genetic drift, suggesting that some conditions lead to genetic isolation in otherwise weakly differentiated species. B. occidentalis and B. bifarius exhibit stronger genetic differentiation than the other species, indicating greater phylogeographic structure consistent with their broader geographic distributions across topographically complex regions of western North America. Screening genetic diversity in North American Bombus should prove useful for identifying species that warrant monitoring, and developing management strategies that promote high levels of gene flow will be a key component in efforts to maintain healthy populations.
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Decline of bumble bees (Bombus) in the North American Midwest
Biological Conservation, 2009Co-Authors: Jennifer C. Grixti, Sydney A. Cameron, Lisa T. Wong, Colin FavretAbstract:Declines in many bumble bee species have been documented in Europe raising several ecological and economic concerns. The nature and extent of bumble bee decline in North America is poorly understood due mainly to a lack of baseline and long-term data. Museum collections provide excellent sources of information on past and current species distributions, which can be used to infer changes in the composition of insect communities. Using the Illinois Natural History Survey’s electronic database of Hymenoptera and a recent biodiversity survey of historically sampled localities, we were able to examine changes in the richness and distribution of the bumble bee fauna of Illinois over the last century. We found that bumble bee species richness declined substantially during the middle of the century (1940–1960). Four species were locally extirpated: Bombus borealis, Bombus ternarius, Bombus terricola and Bombus variabilis. The ranges of Bombus affinis, Bombus fraternus, Bombus pensylvanicus and Bombus vagans have also decreased in Illinois. Our analyses also indicated that current bumble bee diversity is highest in northern Illinois, where conservation efforts would be most productive. Our study demonstrates that half of the bumble bee species found historically in Illinois have been locally extirpated or have suffered declines, supporting observations of broader declines in North America. Major declines in the bumble bee fauna coincided with large-scale agricultural intensification in Illinois between 1940 and 1960. Attempts to conserve bumble bees in Illinois should involve wildlife-friendly approaches to agriculture, such as increasing agricultural land set-asides and hedgerows, and employing integrated pest management.
Ivan Meeus - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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varroa destructor macula like virus lake sinai virus and other new rna viruses in wild bumblebee hosts Bombus pascuorum Bombus lapidarius and Bombus pratorum
Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 2016Co-Authors: Laurian Parmentier, Dirk C De Graaf, Guy Smagghe, Ivan MeeusAbstract:Abstract Pollinators such as bumblebees (Bombus spp.) are in decline worldwide which poses a threat not only for ecosystem biodiversity but also to human crop production services. One main cause of pollinator decline may be the infection and transmission of diseases including RNA viruses. Recently, new viruses have been discovered in honeybees, but information on the presence of these in wild bumblebees is largely not available. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of new RNA viruses in Bombus species, and can report for the first time Varroa destructor Macula-like virus (VdMLV) and Lake Sinai virus (LSV) infection in multiple wild bumblebee hosts of Bombus pascuorum, Bombus lapidarius and Bombus pratorum. We sampled in 4 locations in Flanders, Belgium. Besides, we confirmed Slow bee paralysis virus (SBPV) in wild bumblebees, but no positive samples were obtained for Big Sioux river virus (BSRV). Secondly, we screened for the influence of apiaries on the prevalence of these viruses. Our results indicated a location effect for the prevalence of VdMLV in Bombus species, with a higher prevalence in the proximity of honeybee apiaries mainly observed in one location. For LSV, the prevalence was not different in the proximity or at a 1.5 km-distance of apiaries, but we reported a different isolate with similarities to LSV-2 and “LSV-clade A” as described by Ravoet et al. (2015), which was detected both in Apis mellifera and Bombus species. In general, our results indicate the existence of a disease pool of new viruses that seems to be associated to a broad range of Apoidae hosts, including multiple Bombus species.
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Bee pathogens found in Bombus atratus from Colombia: A case study.
Journal of invertebrate pathology, 2015Co-Authors: Viviana Gamboa, Ivan Meeus, Guy Smagghe, Jorgen Ravoet, Marleen Brunain, Judith Figueroa, Diego Riaño, Dirk C De GraafAbstract:Bombus atratus bumblebees from Colombia that were caught in the wild and from breeding programs were screened for a broad set of bee pathogens. We discovered for the first time Lake Sinai Virus and confirmed the infection by other common viruses. The prevalence of Apicystis bombi, Crithidia bombi and Nosema ceranae was remarkably high. According to other studies the former two could have been co-introduced in South America with exotic bumble bees as Bombus terrestris or Bombus ruderatus. Given the fact that none of these species occur in Colombia, our data puts a new light on the spread of these pathogens over the South American continent.
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apicystis bombi apicomplexa neogregarinorida parasitizing apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris hymenoptera apidae in argentina
Environmental Microbiology Reports, 2011Co-Authors: Santiago Plischuk, Ivan Meeus, Guy Smagghe, Carlos E LangeAbstract:Summary The neogregarine Apicystis bombi is considered a low prevalence parasite of Bombus spp. Before our work it has only once been detected in one single specimen of the Western honeybee Apis mellifera. This contribution reports the presence of A. bombi parasitizing both A. mellifera and Bombus terrestris at a site in Northwestern Argentine Patagonia (Bariloche, close to the border with Chile) and analyses its possible absence in the Pampas region, the most important beekeeping region of the country. In Bariloche, prevalence of A. bombi in A. mellifera was 7.6% in 2009, and 13.6% in 2010, whereas in B. terrestris it was 12.1%. Infections were not detected in 302 bee hives periodically prospected along 3 years (almost 400 000 honeybee specimens) in the Pampas. Analysis with the probability program FreeCalc2 suggested a possible absence of A. bombi in this area. Because of high virulence showed in several species of Bombus in the Northern hemisphere, A. bombi should be closely monitored in A. mellifera and in native Bombus species or other Apidae.
Guy Smagghe - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Occurrence of bee viruses and pathogens associated with emerging infectious diseases in native and non-native bumble bees in southern Chile
Biological Invasions, 2021Co-Authors: Nolberto Arismendi, Guy Smagghe, Gustavo Riveros, Nelson Zapata, Cristian González, Marisol VargasAbstract:The invasion of non-native bees to new ecological territories could spread novel pathogens causing emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) in native species. We provide novel information on the prevalence, load, and co-infection network of honey bee viruses, trypanosoma, microsporidia and neogregarinorida pathogens in native Bombus dahlbomii and non-native Bombus terrestris and Bombus ruderatus . Apicystis bombi and Crithidia bombi were highly prevalent (> 78%) in three bumble bee species, with high loads of these pathogens. Nosema bombi was detected only in B. terrestris (37%) and B. ruderatus (15%). Lotmaria passim was detected in low prevalence (
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varroa destructor macula like virus lake sinai virus and other new rna viruses in wild bumblebee hosts Bombus pascuorum Bombus lapidarius and Bombus pratorum
Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 2016Co-Authors: Laurian Parmentier, Dirk C De Graaf, Guy Smagghe, Ivan MeeusAbstract:Abstract Pollinators such as bumblebees (Bombus spp.) are in decline worldwide which poses a threat not only for ecosystem biodiversity but also to human crop production services. One main cause of pollinator decline may be the infection and transmission of diseases including RNA viruses. Recently, new viruses have been discovered in honeybees, but information on the presence of these in wild bumblebees is largely not available. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of new RNA viruses in Bombus species, and can report for the first time Varroa destructor Macula-like virus (VdMLV) and Lake Sinai virus (LSV) infection in multiple wild bumblebee hosts of Bombus pascuorum, Bombus lapidarius and Bombus pratorum. We sampled in 4 locations in Flanders, Belgium. Besides, we confirmed Slow bee paralysis virus (SBPV) in wild bumblebees, but no positive samples were obtained for Big Sioux river virus (BSRV). Secondly, we screened for the influence of apiaries on the prevalence of these viruses. Our results indicated a location effect for the prevalence of VdMLV in Bombus species, with a higher prevalence in the proximity of honeybee apiaries mainly observed in one location. For LSV, the prevalence was not different in the proximity or at a 1.5 km-distance of apiaries, but we reported a different isolate with similarities to LSV-2 and “LSV-clade A” as described by Ravoet et al. (2015), which was detected both in Apis mellifera and Bombus species. In general, our results indicate the existence of a disease pool of new viruses that seems to be associated to a broad range of Apoidae hosts, including multiple Bombus species.
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Effects of imidacloprid in combination with λ-cyhalothrin on the model pollinator Bombus terrestris at different levels of complexity
Julius-Kühn-Archiv, 2015Co-Authors: Maxime Eeraerts, Bob Ceuppens, Jana Asselmann, Karel De Schamphelaere, Guy SmaggheAbstract:Keywords: bumblebee, Bombus terrestris, neonicotinoids, pyrethroids, toxicity, sublethal effects and risk assessment
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Bee pathogens found in Bombus atratus from Colombia: A case study.
Journal of invertebrate pathology, 2015Co-Authors: Viviana Gamboa, Ivan Meeus, Guy Smagghe, Jorgen Ravoet, Marleen Brunain, Judith Figueroa, Diego Riaño, Dirk C De GraafAbstract:Bombus atratus bumblebees from Colombia that were caught in the wild and from breeding programs were screened for a broad set of bee pathogens. We discovered for the first time Lake Sinai Virus and confirmed the infection by other common viruses. The prevalence of Apicystis bombi, Crithidia bombi and Nosema ceranae was remarkably high. According to other studies the former two could have been co-introduced in South America with exotic bumble bees as Bombus terrestris or Bombus ruderatus. Given the fact that none of these species occur in Colombia, our data puts a new light on the spread of these pathogens over the South American continent.
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apicystis bombi apicomplexa neogregarinorida parasitizing apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris hymenoptera apidae in argentina
Environmental Microbiology Reports, 2011Co-Authors: Santiago Plischuk, Ivan Meeus, Guy Smagghe, Carlos E LangeAbstract:Summary The neogregarine Apicystis bombi is considered a low prevalence parasite of Bombus spp. Before our work it has only once been detected in one single specimen of the Western honeybee Apis mellifera. This contribution reports the presence of A. bombi parasitizing both A. mellifera and Bombus terrestris at a site in Northwestern Argentine Patagonia (Bariloche, close to the border with Chile) and analyses its possible absence in the Pampas region, the most important beekeeping region of the country. In Bariloche, prevalence of A. bombi in A. mellifera was 7.6% in 2009, and 13.6% in 2010, whereas in B. terrestris it was 12.1%. Infections were not detected in 302 bee hives periodically prospected along 3 years (almost 400 000 honeybee specimens) in the Pampas. Analysis with the probability program FreeCalc2 suggested a possible absence of A. bombi in this area. Because of high virulence showed in several species of Bombus in the Northern hemisphere, A. bombi should be closely monitored in A. mellifera and in native Bombus species or other Apidae.
Carlos E Lange - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Pathogens, parasites, and parasitoids associated with bumble bees (Bombus spp.) from Uruguay
Apidologie, 2017Co-Authors: Santiago Plischuk, Estela Santos, Ciro Invernizzi, Sheena Salvarrey, Natalia Arbulo, Jeffrey H. Skevington, Scott Kelso, Pablo D. Revainera, Matías D. Maggi, Carlos E LangeAbstract:AbstractAs elsewhere in the world, bumble bees play a vital role as pollinators in Uruguay, but knowledge on their health status is still limited. Between September 2012 and May 2013, 403 adult individuals of the two species of Bombus known for the country (Bombus atratus, Bombus bellicosus) were collected in six localities. We found that 177 (119 B. atratus, 58 B. bellicosus) were harboring one or two types of pathogens, parasites, or parasitoids. Identification of these natural enemies carried out by morphological or molecular procedures revealed the presence of two species of Microsporidia [Nosema ceranae (prevalence: 18.2 % in B. atratus; 44.9 % in B. bellicosus), Tubulinosema pampeana (prevalence: 13 % in B. atratus)], two species of Nematoda [Sphaerularia bombi (prevalence: 40.4 % in B. atratus; 40 % in B. bellicosus) and an unidentified Mermithidae (prevalence: 0.8 % in B. bellicosus)], and one species of Diptera parasitoid (prevalence: 3.2 % in B. atratus; 4.2 % in B. bellicosus). Except N. ceranae, none of the other species have been previously reported in Uruguay.
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apicystis bombi apicomplexa neogregarinorida parasitizing apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris hymenoptera apidae in argentina
Environmental Microbiology Reports, 2011Co-Authors: Santiago Plischuk, Ivan Meeus, Guy Smagghe, Carlos E LangeAbstract:Summary The neogregarine Apicystis bombi is considered a low prevalence parasite of Bombus spp. Before our work it has only once been detected in one single specimen of the Western honeybee Apis mellifera. This contribution reports the presence of A. bombi parasitizing both A. mellifera and Bombus terrestris at a site in Northwestern Argentine Patagonia (Bariloche, close to the border with Chile) and analyses its possible absence in the Pampas region, the most important beekeeping region of the country. In Bariloche, prevalence of A. bombi in A. mellifera was 7.6% in 2009, and 13.6% in 2010, whereas in B. terrestris it was 12.1%. Infections were not detected in 302 bee hives periodically prospected along 3 years (almost 400 000 honeybee specimens) in the Pampas. Analysis with the probability program FreeCalc2 suggested a possible absence of A. bombi in this area. Because of high virulence showed in several species of Bombus in the Northern hemisphere, A. bombi should be closely monitored in A. mellifera and in native Bombus species or other Apidae.
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invasive Bombus terrestris hymenoptera apidae parasitized by a flagellate euglenozoa kinetoplastea and a neogregarine apicomplexa neogregarinorida
Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 2009Co-Authors: Santiago Plischuk, Carlos E LangeAbstract:Abstract The flagellate Crithidia bombi and the neogregarine Apicystis bombi have been found in individuals of Bombus terrestris, a Palaearctic species of bumble bee commercially reared and shipped worldwide for pollination services. B. terrestris has recently entered into the northwestern Patagonia region of Argentina from Chile, where it was introduced in 1998. Prevalence was 21.6% for C. bombi and 3.6% for A. bombi (n = 111). The pathogens were not detected in 441 bumble bees belonging to five of the eight known Argentine native species (Bombus atratus, Bombus morio, Bombus bellicosus, Bombus opifex, Bombus tucumanus) collected elsewhere in the country. Although the absence of natural occurrence of C. bombi and A. bombi in Argentine native bumble bees cannot be ascertained at present due to the limited surveys performed, it is important to report their detection in invasive B. terrestris. The invasion event is relatively recent and the accompanying pathogens are not species specific within the genus Bombus.
Pierre Rasmont - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Integrative taxonomy of an arctic bumblebee species complex highlights a new cryptic species (Apidae: Bombus)
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2019Co-Authors: Baptiste Martinet, Nicolas Brasero, Thomas Lecocq, Klara Urbanova, Irena Valterová, Denis Michez, Maxence Gérard, Jan Ove Gjershaug, Pierre RasmontAbstract:Bumblebees have been the focus of much research, but the taxonomy of many species groups is still unclear, especially for circumpolar species. Delimiting species based on multisource datasets provides a solution to overcome current systematic issues of closely related populations. Here, we use an integrative taxonomic approach based on new genetic and eco-chemical datasets to resolve the taxonomic status of Bombus lapponicus and Bombus sylvicola. Our results support the conspecific status of B. lapponicus and B. sylvicola and that the low gradual divergence around the Arctic Circle between Fennoscandia and Alaska does not imply speciation in this species complex. Therefore, based on our molecular and morphological analyses, we propose to assign them subspecific status: Bombus lapponicus lapponicus from Fennoscandia and West Siberia and Bombus lapponicus sylvicola comb. nov. from Alaska and Yukon. In addition, our analyses reveal a cryptic species in the B. lapponicus complex from Alaska, which we describe here as new: Bombus (PyroBombus) interacti sp. nov.
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The cephalic labial gland secretions of two socially parasitic bumblebees Bombus hyperboreus ( AlpinoBombus ) and Bombus inexspectatus ( ThoracoBombus ) question their inquiline strategy
Insect Science, 2018Co-Authors: Nicolas Brasero, Patrick Lhomme, Maurizio Cornalba, Thomas Lecocq, Paolo Biella, Baptiste Martinet, Klara Urbanova, Irena Valterová, Heather Hines, Pierre RasmontAbstract:The cephalic labial gland secretions of two socially parasitic bumblebees Bombus hyperboreus (alpinoBombus) and Bombus inexspectatus (thoracoBombus) question their inquiline strategy
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Forward to the north: two Euro-Mediterranean bumblebee species now cross the Arctic Circle
Annales de la Société Entomologique de France, 2015Co-Authors: Baptiste Martinet, Pierre Rasmont, Bjorn Cederberg, Dimitri Evrard, Frode Odegaard, Juho Paukkunen, Thomas LecocqAbstract:In recent decades, several animal and plant species have been in regression (population size decrease and geographical distribution shrinking). This loss of biodiversity can be due to various factors such as the destruction and fragmentation of habitat, urban development, pesticides or climate change. However, some species benefit from these changes and expand their distribution. Here we report observations (in 2013 and 2014) of two Euro-Mediterranean bumblebee species: Bombus terrestris for the first time and Bombus lapidarius, north of the Arctic Circle in Fennoscandia.
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Bombus cullumanus—an extinct European bumblebee species?
Apidologie, 2013Co-Authors: Paul H. Williams, Alexandr Byvaltsev, Cory Sheffield, Pierre RasmontAbstract:Bombus cullumanus s. str . has attracted some of the greatest conservation concerns among bumblebees in Europe because it might now be extinct. However, there has been long-standing disagreement about whether it is conspecific with other eastern pale-banded bumblebees. We investigate these relationships using new data from DNA (COI) barcodes. The results support a Nearctic rufocinctus -group ( Bombus rufocinctus ) and a Palaearctic cullumanus -group, the latter with just three species: Bombus semenoviellus, Bombus unicus and B. cullumanus s. l . (including several differently coloured taxa). We conclude that, although any persisting B. cullumanus cullumanus s. str . might be a regional conservation priority within Europe, nevertheless, because the species remains common elsewhere within its range in Asia, globally a higher conservation priority should be given to B. unicus , which is genetically more distinct and appears to have a much smaller population in the Russian Far East.
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Bombus cullumanus an extinct european bumblebee species
Apidologie, 2013Co-Authors: Paul H. Williams, Alexandr Byvaltsev, Cory S Sheffield, Pierre RasmontAbstract:Bombus cullumanus s. str. has attracted some of the greatest conservation concerns among bumblebees in Europe because it might now be extinct. However, there has been long-standing disagreement about whether it is conspecific with other eastern pale-banded bumblebees. We investigate these relationships using new data from DNA (COI) barcodes. The results support a Nearctic rufocinctus-group (Bombus rufocinctus) and a Palaearctic cullumanus-group, the latter with just three species: Bombus semenoviellus, Bombus unicus and B. cullumanus s. l. (including several differently coloured taxa). We conclude that, although any persisting B. cullumanus cullumanus s. str. might be a regional conservation priority within Europe, nevertheless, because the species remains common elsewhere within its range in Asia, globally a higher conservation priority should be given to B. unicus, which is genetically more distinct and appears to have a much smaller population in the Russian Far East.
