易受环境影响的花蜜中酚类物质对蜜蜂化学通讯的影响

Global environmental change (GEC) such as enhanced CO2 concentration and increased ultraviolet-B radiation often induces an accumulation of plant secondary metabolites in plant tissues, thereby affecting the growth, development and reproductive of phytophagous insects. However, few studies have examined the effect of the GEC-induced secondary metabolites on insect chemical communication. In the stduy, we will examine whether and how nectar phenolics, which are susceptible to enviromental change, disturb the chemical communication in a honeybee colony. After identifying the main GEC-susceptible Volatile (GVPs) and Non-volatile Phenolics (GNPs) in nectar, we examine the pre-ingestive effect of the GVPs on the chemical communication between workers and their queen or larvae in a colony by first determining whether the GVPs theoretically alter the sturature-acitivity of the queen or larval semiochemicals and then determining whether worker bees change their responses to the queen or larval semiochemicals when the GVPs are pumped into the colony. Also, we examine the post-ingestive effect of the GNPs on the chemical communication between workers and the queen or larvae in a colony by determining whether worker bees shift their responses to the queen or larval semiochemicals after they are fed with GNPs. The study will reveal whether GEC disrupts the chemical communication in a honeybee colony, thus potentially triggering the Colony Collapse Disorder that has been reported throughout the world.

全球环境变化如二氧化碳浓度增加、紫外辐射增强常诱导植物组织次生代谢物含量增加，从而影响植食性昆虫生长、发育和繁殖。但是很少有研究全球变化所诱导的植物次生代谢物质对昆虫化学通讯的影响。本研究拟探讨花蜜中易受环境变化影响的酚类物质是否及如何干扰蜜蜂蜂群群内化学通讯。在确定花蜜中易受全球环境变化影响的主要挥发性（GVPs）和非挥发性酚类物质(GNPs)之后，我们首先从理论上分析花蜜中GVPs是否引起蜂王、幼虫信息化学物质的构效变化，接着确定给蜂群输入GVPs时工蜂对蜂王、幼虫信息素的响应是否发生变化，探讨花蜜中GVPs对工蜂与蜂王或幼虫之间化学通讯影响的取食前效应。我们也检测工蜂在取食GNPs后是否改变对蜂王、幼虫信息素的响应，探讨花蜜中GNPs对工蜂与蜂王或幼虫之间化学通讯影响的取食后作用。该研究将揭示全球环境变化是否干扰蜜蜂化学通讯，从而引发全球蜂群崩溃。

全球环境变化如大气中二氧化碳、自由基浓度增加以及紫外辐射增强常诱导植物花蜜中酚类物质含量增加，从而对以花蜜为食的蜜蜂产生潜在影响。本研究利用控制试验和量子化学计算等方法研究花蜜中易受环境影响的主要酚类物质对蜜蜂化学通讯的影响。结果如下：. 化学分析表明，荞麦花蜜中含有蜜蜂蜂王信息素，包括对羟基苯甲酸、阿魏酸和4-羟基-3 甲氧基苯乙醇（HVA），另外含有丰富的绿原酸、异绿原酸。高温和干旱环境易导致挥发性（GVPs）和非挥发性（GNPs）酚酸类物质浓度迅速升高，对黄酮类影响较小。饲喂试验表明，GVPs对蜜蜂化学通讯影响较大，主要是由于GVPs影响了蜜蜂的化学感知。. 量子化学计算表明，花蜜中常见的GVPs，如丁香油酸和乙酸香茅酯，可与蜂王信息素挥发性成分HVA发生化学反应，改变了HVA原有的结构和活性。因此，GVPs还可以通过改变HVA而干扰蜜蜂的化学通讯。. 综上所述，本研究认为花蜜中易受环境影响的主要是酚酸类物质，其中，挥发性的酚酸可通过改变蜜蜂的化学感知或直接影响蜂王信息素活性严重干扰蜂群内的化学通讯。