The volcanic kill zone is essentially everything it sounds like. It contains a surface covered in volcanic ash and sparse in vegetation. Rolling over the volcanic debris are clouds of toxic fumes and bubbling pools slow-flowing magma. These conditions make it nearly impossible for any plant to grow because the magma inevitably wipes out any traces of life. Except for when a group of scientists visiting the Masaya volcano, just outside the Nicaraguan capital of Managua, encountered a species very much alive and thriving, burrowing beneath the ashes of the kill zone.
A species of bee, Anthophora squammulosa, was discovered rummaging through the volcanic debris in search of nectar. A peculiar home for a bee, as their sole source of food comes from plants. A combination of abiotic factors caused by the volcano such as the blistering hot temperatures and high frequency of acid rain destroy any chance of plant traces. The question remains: Why are these bees living in an area that is void of vegetation?
It turns out that this bee population almost entirely receives its pollen deposits from one plant: Melanthera nivea. This wildflower can survive the mountain’s harsh conditions. It is no surprise that A. squammulosa and Melanthera nivea have a tight relationship where the bee pollinates the only plant able to withstand these brutal volcanic conditions. In this mutualistic relationship, the bee gets to eat and the flower gets to reproduce. Female bees dig their nests approximately 30 centimeters into the ash where they lay eggs and store their pollen and nectar deposits. With no apparent predators or risk of plant roots damaging their nests, it is safe to wonder if A. squammulosa is a species of masterminds, choosing the kill zone as a home to avoid all forms of competition, or if this is just another evolutionary example of a population’s adaptation?
Is there any evidence of other bee species being able to withstand this type of environment? If not, is there any specific adaptations that the A. squammulosa has acquired that separates it from other species? Also, how longer after the volcano did this bee species arrive and are they found in other environments?
ReplyDelete-Maddie Powers
It's cool to see that life really can come about in so many places. Eucalyptus plants are sort of similar. They thrive in fires. They can only open their seeds then.
ReplyDeleteHow do these bees maintain genetic diversity? How do these populations of bees maintain some sort of contact or gene flow to maintain genetic diversity? If each population needs volcanic ash to survive, it makes sense that a given population would stay at the volcano it's already at. If the volcanos are really far away, that doesn't seem like it would facilitate contact between populations...
Posted by "Chandler Kupris"
As Chandler said above the genetic diversity of these populations must be incredibly low due to there isolation. But I'm not sure this would really affect hives that much as they all share relatively similar genes due to being from the same queen. Also if the populations are endemic to these ashy volcanoes then you'll probably find many hives in these areas.
ReplyDeleteIt is really surprising that this kind of bee and this kind of plant can survive under this condition. Does this bee species have other phenotypic traits that help it survive in this place? Life must be very difficult in a place with hot temperature, acid rain and volcanic ash.
ReplyDeletePosted by "Muchen Liu"
Since this kind of bees live in such a dangerous and drastic environment is the population of these bees low compared to bees that live in forests or other vegetated areas? Also since the bees make their nests in the ash is it ever possible for the nest to be destroyed by the environment itself? If so how quickly can these bees recover if their nest is destroyed and how effective are they in making their food?
ReplyDeletePosted by "Edwin Montecinos"
You bring up an interesting point. The scientists found there to be about 2,000 of these bees in the area. These bees undergo an even more of a serious threat than natural predators. While the risk is low, an eruption would completely wipe out the species. Not to mention, if their plant were to die out, the bees would no longer have a food source.
DeletePosted by "Josha Cruz"
Do these bees make honey as well? Are there any other species living in this area or is it just this type of bees who occupy it? I had always thought that bees love living in warm temperatures with a lot of plants and vegetations where they can create a source of food for energy from. It's quite surprising to read about this type of bees.
ReplyDelete-Han Nguyen
As far as I am concerned, it is very difficult for anything to maintain growth or sustain life in this harsh environment. The bee genus Anthophora are known to not be picky pollinators, so A. squammulosa are taking what they can get.
DeletePosted by "Josha Cruz"