Honeybee Science Research Center, Tamagawa University, 6-1-1, Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo, Japan.
Faculty of Life Sciences, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kamigamo, Motoyama, Kita-Ku, Kyoto, Japan.
Sci Rep. 2023 Jul 17;13(1):11506. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-38631-7.
The rapid naturalization of Bombus terrestris across the Nemuro Peninsula has led to a decline in two closely related native Japanese species, namely Bombus hypocrita sapporensis and Bombus cryptarum florilegus, both belonging to the common subgenus Bombus. Although it is widely believed that cross-mating of native and non-native species is influenced by the common male sex pheromone in this region, no study has been conducted to substantiate this claim. Thus, we investigated the cross-activities of male sex pheromones between native and non-native bumblebees, as well as the frequencies of cross-mating, using chemical and DNA assays. Our gas chromatography-electroantennographic detector analyses and behavioral tests revealed the presence of sex pheromonal cross-activities between B. terrestris and the two Japanese bumblebees species. Furthermore, DNA analyses revealed the occurrence of cross-mating between native and non-native species in the Nemuro Peninsula. Overall, these results indicate the immediate need for conservation measures to safeguard Japanese bumblebee populations in the Nemuro Peninsula.
在知床半岛，熊蜂迅速归化，导致两种密切相关的日本本土物种，即拟熊蜂 Sapporensis 和花熊蜂 florilegus 的数量减少，它们都属于常见的熊蜂亚属。虽然人们普遍认为，该地区的本地和非本地物种的杂交受到共同的雄性信息素的影响，但没有研究证实这一说法。因此，我们使用化学和 DNA 分析方法，调查了本地和非本地熊蜂之间的雄性信息素的交叉活性，以及杂交的频率。我们的气相色谱-触角电位测定分析和行为测试表明，B. terrestris 与两种日本熊蜂之间存在性信息素的交叉活性。此外，DNA 分析显示，在知床半岛发生了本地和非本地物种之间的杂交。总的来说，这些结果表明，需要立即采取保护措施来保护知床半岛的日本熊蜂种群。
