The Role of Pathogens in Bumblebee Decline: A Review
Bumblebees, the most important wild pollinators in both agricultural and natural ecosystems, are declining worldwide. The global decline of bumblebees may threaten biodiversity, pollination services, and, ultimately, agricultural productivity. Several factors, including pesticide usage, climate chan...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/1/94 |
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| author | Huanhuan Chen Nawaz Haider Bashir Qiang Li Chao Liu Muhammad Naeem Haohan Wang Wenrong Gao Richard T. Corlett Cong Liu Mayra C. Vidal |
| author_facet | Huanhuan Chen Nawaz Haider Bashir Qiang Li Chao Liu Muhammad Naeem Haohan Wang Wenrong Gao Richard T. Corlett Cong Liu Mayra C. Vidal |
| author_sort | Huanhuan Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Bumblebees, the most important wild pollinators in both agricultural and natural ecosystems, are declining worldwide. The global decline of bumblebees may threaten biodiversity, pollination services, and, ultimately, agricultural productivity. Several factors, including pesticide usage, climate change, habitat loss, and species invasion, have been documented in the decline of bumblebee species, but recent studies have revealed the dominating role of pathogens and parasites over any of these causes. Unfortunately, there is a lack of a full understanding of the role of pathogens and parasites in the decline of bumblebee species. The current study provides a comprehensive review of how pathogens and parasites contribute to the decline of bumblebee species. The study also explores the prevalence of each pathogen and parasite within bumblebee populations. Furthermore, we address the synergistic effects of pathogens and other stressors, such as pesticides, climatic effects, and habitat loss, on bumblebee populations. To summarize, we propose possible conservation and management strategies to preserve the critical role of bumblebees in pollination services and thus to support ecosystem and agricultural health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4e06b297821f44d09042709370cc16cb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj-art-4e06b297821f44d09042709370cc16cb2025-01-24T13:44:53ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-01-011419410.3390/pathogens14010094The Role of Pathogens in Bumblebee Decline: A ReviewHuanhuan Chen0Nawaz Haider Bashir1Qiang Li2Chao Liu3Muhammad Naeem4Haohan Wang5Wenrong Gao6Richard T. Corlett7Cong Liu8Mayra C. Vidal9College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, ChinaCollege of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, ChinaCollege of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, ChinaCollege of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, ChinaCollege of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, ChinaCollege of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, ChinaCollege of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, ChinaCenter for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla 666303, ChinaBiology Department, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USABiology Department, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USABumblebees, the most important wild pollinators in both agricultural and natural ecosystems, are declining worldwide. The global decline of bumblebees may threaten biodiversity, pollination services, and, ultimately, agricultural productivity. Several factors, including pesticide usage, climate change, habitat loss, and species invasion, have been documented in the decline of bumblebee species, but recent studies have revealed the dominating role of pathogens and parasites over any of these causes. Unfortunately, there is a lack of a full understanding of the role of pathogens and parasites in the decline of bumblebee species. The current study provides a comprehensive review of how pathogens and parasites contribute to the decline of bumblebee species. The study also explores the prevalence of each pathogen and parasite within bumblebee populations. Furthermore, we address the synergistic effects of pathogens and other stressors, such as pesticides, climatic effects, and habitat loss, on bumblebee populations. To summarize, we propose possible conservation and management strategies to preserve the critical role of bumblebees in pollination services and thus to support ecosystem and agricultural health.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/1/94<i>Bombus</i> speciesbee decline<i>Vairimorpha</i><i>Crithidia</i>virusespathogens |
| spellingShingle | Huanhuan Chen Nawaz Haider Bashir Qiang Li Chao Liu Muhammad Naeem Haohan Wang Wenrong Gao Richard T. Corlett Cong Liu Mayra C. Vidal The Role of Pathogens in Bumblebee Decline: A Review Pathogens <i>Bombus</i> species bee decline <i>Vairimorpha</i> <i>Crithidia</i> viruses pathogens |
| title | The Role of Pathogens in Bumblebee Decline: A Review |
| title_full | The Role of Pathogens in Bumblebee Decline: A Review |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Pathogens in Bumblebee Decline: A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Pathogens in Bumblebee Decline: A Review |
| title_short | The Role of Pathogens in Bumblebee Decline: A Review |
| title_sort | role of pathogens in bumblebee decline a review |
| topic | <i>Bombus</i> species bee decline <i>Vairimorpha</i> <i>Crithidia</i> viruses pathogens |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/1/94 |
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