The nectar report: quantitative review of nectar sugar concentrations offered by bee visited flowers in agricultural and non-agricultural landscapes

There is growing concern that some bee populations are in decline, potentially threatening pollination security in agricultural and non-agricultural landscapes. Among the numerous causes associated with this trend, nutritional stress resulting from a mismatch between bee nutritional needs and plant community provisioning has been suggested as one potential driver. To ease nutritional stress on bee populations in agricultural habitats, agri-environmental protection schemes aim to provide alternative nutritional resources for bee populations during times of need. However, such efforts have focused mainly on quantity (providing flowering plants) and timing (during flower-scarce periods), while largely ignoring the quality of the offered flower resources. In a first step to start addressing this information gap, we have used literature data to compile a comprehensive geographically explicit dataset on nectar quality (i.e., total sugar concentration), offered to bees both within fields (crop and weed species) as well as outside fields (wild species) around the globe. Social bees are particularly sensitive to nectar sugar concentrations, which directly impact calorie influx into the colony and consequently their fitness making it an important resource quality marker. We find that the total nectar sugar concentrations in general do not differ between the three plant communities studied. In contrast we find increased variability in nectar quality in the wild plant community compared to crop and weed community, which is likely explained by the increased phylogenetic diversity in this category of plants. In a second step we explore the influence of local habitat on nectar quality and its variability utilizing a detailed sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) data set and find that geography has a small, but significant influence on these parameters. In a third step we identify crop groups (genera), which provide sub-optimal nectar resources for bees and suggest high quality alternatives as potential nectar supplements. In the long term this data set could serve as a starting point to systematically collect more quality characteristics of plant provided resources to bees, which ultimately can be utilized by scientist, regulators, NGOs and farmers to improve the flower resources offered to bees. We hope that ultimately this data will help to ease nutritional stress for bee populations and foster a data informed discussion about pollinator conservation in modern agricultural landscapes

Two pathways ensuring social harmony

Reproductive division of labour is a characteristic trait of social insects. The dominant reproductive individual, often the queen, uses chemical communication and/or behaviour to maintain her social status. Queens of many social insects communicate their fertility status via cuticle-bound substances. As these substances usually possess a low volatility, their range in queen–worker communication is potentially limited. Here, we investigate the range and impact of behavioural and chemical queen signals on workers of the ant Temnothorax longispinosus. We compared the behaviour and ovary development of workers subjected to three different treatments: workers with direct chemical and physical contact to the queen, those solely under the influence of volatile queen substances and those entirely separated from the queen. In addition to short-ranged queen signals preventing ovary development in workers, we discovered a novel secondary pathway influencing worker behaviour. Workers with no physical contact to the queen, but exposed to volatile substances, started to develop their ovaries, but did not change their behaviour compared to workers in direct contact to the queen. In contrast, workers in queen-separated groups showed both increased ovary development and aggressive dominance interactions. We conclude that T. longispinosus queens influence worker ovary development and behaviour via two independent signals, both ensuring social harmony within the colony

Two pathways ensuring social harmony

Reproductive division of labour is a characteristic trait of social insects. The dominant reproductive individual, often the queen, uses chemical communication and/or behaviour to maintain her social status. Queens of many social insects communicate their fertility status via cuticle-bound substances. As these substances usually possess a low volatility, their range in queen-worker communication is potentially limited. Here, we investigate the range and impact of behavioural and chemical queen signals on workers of the ant Temnothorax longispinosus. We compared the behaviour and ovary development of workers subjected to three different treatments: workers with direct chemical and physical contact to the queen, those solely under the influence of volatile queen substances and those entirely separated from the queen. In addition to short-ranged queen signals preventing ovary development in workers, we discovered a novel secondary pathway influencing worker behaviour. Workers with no physical contact to the queen, but exposed to volatile substances, started to develop their ovaries, but did not change their behaviour compared to workers in direct contact to the queen. In contrast, workers in queen-separated groups showed both increased ovary development and aggressive dominance interactions. We conclude that T. longispinosus queens influence worker ovary development and behaviour via two independent signals, both ensuring social harmony within the colony

Phantom study for comparison between computed tomography- and C-Arm computed tomography-guided puncture applied by residents in radiology

Zusammenfassung Ziel Vergleich der Punktionsabweichung und -dauer zwischen Computertomografie (CT) - und C-Arm-CT (CACT) -gesteuertem Punktionsverfahren bei Anwendung durch Assistenzarzte in Weiterbildung (AiW). Material und Methode In einer Kohorte von 25 AiW, die Teil einer wissenschaftlichen Forderung waren, wurden entweder CT- oder CACT-gesteuerte Punktionen an einem Phantom durchgefuhrt. Vor Beginn wurden der Weiterbildungsstand, die Erfahrung mit Spielen eines Musikinstruments, mit Videospielen und mit Ballsportarten und die Selbsteinschatzung von manueller Geschicklichkeit und raumlichem Denkvermogen abgefragt. Jede/r AiW fuhrte 2 Punktionen durch, wobei die 1. Punktion mit einem transaxialen bzw. einfach angulierten Nadelpfad und die 2. Punktion mit einem einfach bzw. doppelt angulierten Nadelpfad erfolgte. Punktionsabweichung und -dauer wurden zwischen den Verfahren verglichen und mit den Selbsteinschatzungen korreliert. Ergebnisse Die beiden Gruppen der AiW zeigten keine Unterschiede in der Erfahrung in der Radiologie (p = 1), in der Angiografie (p = 0.415) und in der Anzahl bereits durchgefuhrter Punktionen gesteuert durch Ultraschall (p = 0,483), CT (p = 0,934) und CACT (p = 0,466). In der CT (ohne Navigationssoftware) war die Punktionsdauer signifikant langer als mit der CACT-Bildsteuerung mit Navigationssoftware (p < 0,001). Bei der Punktionsdauer zeigten sich keine signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen der 1. und 2. Punktion im CT (p = 0,719), wahrend die 2. Punktion mit CACT schneller durchgefuhrt werden konnte (p = 0,006). Die Punktionsabweichung war weder signifikant zwischen CT- und CACT-Bildsteuerung (p = 0,337), noch zwischen der 1. und 2. Punktion der jeweiligen Verfahren (CT: p = 0,130; CACT: p = 0,391). Die Selbsteinschatzung der manuellen Geschicklichkeit korrelierte nicht mit der Punktionsabweichung (p = 0,059) und -dauer (p = 0,158). Das subjektive raumliche Denkvermogen zeigte eine moderate positive Korrelation zur Punktionsabweichung (p = 0,011), aber nicht zur -dauer (p = 0,541). Schlussfolgerung Die AiW erreichten eine dem Ausbildungsstand entsprechende, klinisch adaquate Punktionsabweichung unter CT- und CACT-Bildsteuerung. Die CACT-gesteuerten Punktionen mit Unterstutzung durch Navigationssoftware wurden schneller durchgefuhrt, und auch die Lernkurve war mit CACT-Bildsteuerung steiler. Raumliches Denkvermogen kann moglicherweise das Erlernen bildgesteuerter Punktionen beschleunigen. Kernaussagen: Die Erfahrung mit Punktionen war in einer Gruppe von AiW, die im Rahmen des Programms der Deutschen Rontgengesellschaft e. V. Forscher-fur-die-Zukunft ausgesucht wurden, dem Weiterbildungsstand entsprechend. Trotz kollektiv geringerer Erfahrung der radiologischen AiW mit der CACT-gesteuerten Punktion mit Navigationssoftwareunterstutzung ist die Lernkurve gegenuber der einfachen CT-Punktion moglicherweise steiler. Bei schwierigen Punktionswegen konnte die CACT-Bildsteuerung mit Softwareunterstutzung einen Vorteil in der Durchfuhrung gegenuber der konventionellen CT-Bildsteuerung haben. Zitierweise Meine TC, Hinrichs JB, Werncke T et al. Phantom study for comparison between computed tomography- and C-Arm computed tomography-guided puncture applied by residents in radiology. Fortschr Rontgenstr 2021; DOI: 10. 1055/a-1586-273