Bee competitive: Research reveals the impact of natural selection on nectar supply and demand

• Recent theoretical research indicates that natural selection will increase existing seasonal imbalances between the supply of nectar from flowers and the demand from bees and other insects.  
   
• The study, supported by Rowse Honey, has implications for pollinator conservation and beekeeping. In particular, to provide additional flowers in specific seasons of nectar shortage. In the UK, the season of shortage is generally summer. 

New research by the Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects (LASI) at the University of Sussex shows that natural selection will cause flowers to produce less nectar when pollinators are abundant, and vice versa. 

The research, published in the journal Ecology Letters, explains that, when pollinators are scarce, natural selection will cause plants to produce more nectar to outcompete other plants in attracting pollinators. But when pollinators are abundant, plants will be selected to produce less nectar as pollinators are easy to attract and will work for “low wages”.

The research helps explain why bees and other insects have to work harder to collect nectar in the summer, when there are more pollinators on the wing. 

Francis Ratnieks, LASI Director and Professor of Apiculture at the University of Sussex, said: “Flowers need to attract pollinating insects to reproduce by making seeds and by exporting pollen to other flowers. When pollinators are abundant a plant won’t have to make much nectar to do this. But when pollinators are scarce more nectar will be needed to attract the pollinators in competition with other flowers.”

The scenario is similar to high-tech companies and specialist workers. When the specialists are in short supply, companies need to offer higher salaries to outcompete other companies. But if specialist workers are abundant, lower pay can be enough.  

Professor Ratnieks added: “What is intriguing is that competition among plants for pollinators combines with natural selection to cause positive feedback that exacerbates imbalances between supply and demand. Our study shows how complex nature really is.” 

LASI co-author Dr Nick Balfour noted: “Why, if in spring pollinators are scarce and nectar abundant with the reverse in summer, don’t insects change their flight period to spring and plants their bloom period to summer? In fact, there are numerous evolutionary and ecological constraints that prevent or hinder this. For example, spring blooming plants cannot easily change to summer blooming and the life cycles of honey bee and bumble bee colonies means there will be more bees in summer than spring.” 

The findings have interesting implications for bee and pollinator conservation. For one thing, human interventions could help improve nectar balance, such as in the UK by the growing of summer blooming agricultural crops or garden flowers, and by encouraging summer blooming wild flowers. 

Professor Ratnieks added: “At LASI, the Sussex Plan for Honey Bee Health and Well Being investigates the challenges facing honey bees and beekeeping, in particular foraging and food supply, as well as pests and diseases. Previous LASI research has shown that it is July and August when bees have to work harder to find food so it is in these months when people can really help bees. By ensuring there are bee-friendly plants available, such as marjoram, lavender and borage, in our gardens and greens spaces during the summer, we can provide additional nectar at a time of shortage.”

“The Sussex Plan has been kindly supported by Rowse Honey through their Hives for Lives programme for over a decade, enabling us to study these topics which are vital for the long- term health of our bees and other pollinators.

Samantha MacNamara, Senior Brand Manager at Rowse Honey, said: “Our Hives for Lives programme is all about supporting bees and beekeepers. We are proud to be the lead sponsor of LASI’s Sussex Plan for Honey Bee Health & Well Being and contribute to a better understanding of how to support these important creatures. 

“We also work with two other Hives for Lives partners – the Bee Farmers Association (BFA) to run an apprenticeship scheme to inspire, recruit and train the next generation of young British bee farmers; and Bees for Development (BFD) to support communities in Ethiopia to earn an income from honey, offering a sustainable pathway out of poverty.”