Oxidative Stress, Stress Resistance, and Longevity in Apis Mellifera
Abstract
For studies conducted in Years 1 and 2 of this project, thousands of samples have been processed. Year 1 examined variation within colonies and among individuals to identify behavioral markers of stress resistance and the possible genetic underpinnings of oxidative stress, including paternal or maternal effects. In the second field season, we performed experiments in more of a top-down manner, more thoroughly examining how environmental, colony-level factors influence individual longevity, oxidative damage and stress resistance. This is an area that has not been previously examined at this level and will produce a significant amount of information (e.g., how management practices may directly impact stress levels) that will lead to a host of new questions for future investigation. With the addition of a new postdoctoral researcher, training and optimization of methods occurred in the middle of the fourth field season. For the third field season, we have submitted a manuscript for publication comparing honey bee drones (males) in their susceptibility vs. resistance to oxidative challenge. We have also completed the analysis of the Year 2 samples for the following comparisons: (1) Stationary vs. Migratory vs. Intense Migratory and (2) young In-Hive Workers vs. old Foragers. Three measures of oxidative stress were measured: (1) DNA oxidation, (2) protein carbonyl, and (3) lipid peroxidase. These results are currently being written up for a submission to Scientific Reports.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 23, 2015
- Accession Number
- AD1058553
Entities
People
- David R Tarpy
- Hongmei Li-Byarlay
- Michael Simone-Finstrom
- Micheline Strand
- Ming Huang
- Olav Rueppell
Organizations
- North Carolina State University