The “Silent Takeover”: invasive bees are reshaping Chile’s unique pollination networks

Pensoft Publishers

FacebookXLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

Apis mellifera

view more 

Credit: Francisco E. Fontúrbel

Biological invasions are a major driver of biodiversity loss and invasive pollinators can reshape native plant-pollinator networks. A new study published in the journal NeoBiota, reveals that invasive pollinators are fundamentally reshaping native plant-pollinator networks in Chile, leading to a "silent takeover" that threatens the stability of one of the world's most unique biodiversity hotspots.

Chile functions as a “biogeographical island,” isolated by the Andes Mountains, the Atacama Desert, and the Pacific Ocean. While this isolation has created a highly specialized ecosystem, it also makes the region particularly sensitive to change.

Despite this vulnerability, Chile has a long history of introducing non-native bees for agricultural purposes. A collaborative team of Chilean and Brazilian researchers sought to understand and quantify the long-term impact of these introductions, specifically focusing on how non-native pollinators like Bombus terrestris (the buff-tailed bumblebee) affect native species.

Tracking the “Silent Takeover”

To assess the impact, researchers analyzed over 2,100 records, merging historical scientific data with citizen-science data. They focused on three non-native species: the western honeybee (Apis mellifera), the buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), and the large garden bumblebee (Bombus ruderatus).

“The motivation was to understand whether these invasions were simply adding species to the system or quietly transforming it from within,” explains Dr. Rafaela Cabral Marinho, the lead author of the study.

The study’s key finding points to the overwhelming dominance of Bombus terrestris, which accounted for more than 70% of recorded interactions in the combined dataset. “That level of integration into a national pollination network is remarkable for a relatively recent invader,” notes Dr. Barbara Guimarães, one of the researchers.

Furthermore, the invasive bees showed strong interaction with non-native plants and displayed highly generalist behavior. To further measure the impact on pollination networks, the team compared data from before and after 2005, the year B. terrestris began to be used extensively in open fields. They identified a concerning shift: native species like Bombus dahlbomii were being gradually displaced.

The networks did not collapse; instead, they became more generalized and homogenized.  Native bees were not always disappearing completely. The system kept functioning, but in a different way. This quiet reorganization is what led us to describe the process as a ‘silent takeover. Native bees were not always disappearing completely. The system kept functioning, but in a different way. This quiet reorganization is what led us to describe the process as a  'silent takeover'.

- explain the researchers.

The power of citizen science

The study also highlighted the vital role of public engagement. “We were surprised by the volume and value of citizen science contributions, and how they can provide meaningful insights when combined with research data,” says Dr. Fontúrbel, one of the researchers.

This proved that citizen science is an essential tool for detecting and tracking the spread of invasive species in ecosystems, providing direct information for conservation actions.

A call for interaction-based conservation

One key takeaway is that biological invasions are not always catastrophic overnight events. They can be gradual reorganizations of ecological relationships. While invasive bees may increase pollination for certain crops, they can simultaneously reduce the specialization and stability of native mutualisms. Over time, this may lead to biotic homogenization, ecosystems becoming more similar to one another and less unique.

add the researchers

“Our research highlights that conservation is not only about protecting species, but it is also about protecting interactions,” they conclude.

The researchers advocate for coordinated policies regarding species introductions, early detection monitoring, and continued public engagement to safeguard the integrity of Chile’s biodiversity.

  

Bombus terrestris

Western honeybee (Apis mellifera)

Credit

Francisco E. Fontúrbel

Original source:

Marinho RC, Guimarães BMdaC, Carvallo GO, Maruyama PK, Murúa MM, Rech AR, Vieli L, Oliveira PE, Fontúrbel FE (2026) Silent takeover: How invasive bees reshaped plant-pollinator interactions in a biodiversity hotspot. NeoBiota 105: 259-274. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.105.174573

---

Journal

NeoBiota

DOI

10.3897/neobiota.105.174573 

Article Title

Silent takeover: How invasive bees reshaped plant-pollinator interactions in a biodiversity hotspot

 

Multiple sclerosis doubles in prevalence while survival rates improve

University College London

FacebookXLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

Multiple sclerosis (MS) has more than doubled in recorded prevalence in England from 2000 to 2020, increasing by 6% per year, largely due to improved diagnosis and longer life expectancy, finds a new study by University College London (UCL) and Imperial College London researchers.

The team found that survival of people with MS improved significantly over time thanks to advances in treatments and care, although they also identified inequalities, with higher mortality in deprived areas.

In the study published in JAMA Neurology, the researchers estimate that 190,000 people are living with MS in England today.

Lead author Professor Olga Ciccarelli (NIHR Research Professor of Neurology, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology) said: “People with MS are living longer than ever before, thanks to better care, disease-modifying therapies, and earlier diagnosis, but there is still much more to do.

“We found that quitting smoking and maintaining a healthy weight were both associated with lower mortality. Therefore, tackling smoking, obesity, and inequalities in access to diagnostics and care could reduce avoidable deaths and help people with MS stay healthier for longer.”

MS is a neurological condition in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, but the first signs of MS can start years earlier. Common early signs include tingling, numbness, limb weakness, and problems with vision, but it can take time to reach a definitive diagnosis.

The researchers reviewed over 30 years of public health records, using a very large database of primary (GP) care records in England from 1990 to 2023, some of which were also linked to secondary (hospital) care data. They identified possible MS cases based on multiple sources including diagnostic records and prescription of drugs that are exclusively used to treat MS.

They estimated that standardised prevalence (how common MS is across the population, adjusted for differences in age, sex and region) increased from 107 per 100,000 people in 2000 to 232 per 100,000 in 2020. This corresponded to an estimated 131,000 people living with MS in 2020. In adjusted analyses, prevalence increased by 6% per year. Extrapolating that trend forward, the researchers project that approximately 190,000 people are likely living with MS in England today.

The researchers also found that survival improved through the study period, as people are living longer with MS after diagnosis; those diagnosed later in the study period were more likely to live to 80 years old and had lower annual mortality rates.

Mortality was found to be highest in deprived areas, while prevalence was highest in the least deprived areas. The researchers say this suggests that people in deprived areas are more likely to be living with undiagnosed MS, while evidence also suggests they have lower access to care, may be accessing treatments later on in the disease course, and are more likely to be living with other health conditions.

The researchers highlight that smoking and obesity both contribute to poor outcomes for MS, and as smoking and obesity rates are higher in deprived areas, this may be contributing to inequalities in MS outcomes.

First author Professor Raffaele Palladino (Imperial College London and University of Naples Federico II) said: “While much progress has been made in improving MS diagnosis and access to treatments that extend lifespans and improve quality of life, there is still more work to be done. Efforts to improve earlier diagnosis should be particularly focused on reaching socioeconomically disadvantaged groups who might face greater barriers to diagnosis and care.”

Dr Catherine Godbold, Senior Research Communications Manager at the MS Society, commented: "Exploring the role of deprivation in MS outcomes is important research. It's encouraging to see evidence showing improvements in life expectancy for people with MS. But we need to see more consistent access to diagnosis, treatment, and support for people to manage their symptoms so that everyone with MS, whatever their circumstances or where they live, can live well. We know smoking and obesity can worsen MS, and this study suggests targeted support around stopping smoking and maintaining a healthy weight could also be crucial in reducing inequalities in MS outcomes.”

The study was supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the MS Society, and the NIHR UCLH Biomedical Research Centre.

---

Journal

JAMA Neurology

DOI

10.1001/jamaneurol.2026.0352 

Article Title

Thirty-Year Trends in Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence, Lifestyle Factors, and Mortality in England

Article Publication Date

23-Mar-2026

 

Unlocking longevity insights from ancient bristlecone pine

Scientists sequence genome of great basin bristlecone pine, earth’s oldest living individual organism

University of California - Davis

FacebookXLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

The bristlecone pine tree is the world's oldest living non-clonal organism. This one grows in California's White Mountains.

view more 

Credit: Kat Kerlin/UC Davis

What can the world’s longest living individual teach us about longevity? A team of scientists coordinated by the University of California, Davis, sequenced the Great Basin bristlecone pine genome, which could help unlock the secrets of this tree’s exceptionally long life and provide insights for other species.

Their study, published in the journal G3: Genes|Genomics|Genetics, notes that the Great Basin bristlecone pine, Pinus longaeva, is the oldest individual, non-clonal organism on the planet, with some trees living more than 5,000 years. “Pando,” a giant colony of aspen stems that originate from a single root system, is estimated to be older. However, its individual stems are rarely more than a few hundred years old.

Wind-sculpted and solitary, with gnarled, twisting branches, the bristlecone pine spends its long life atop some of the harshest, highest and coldest parts of the West. The species is endemic to the Great Basin mountains of eastern California, Nevada and Utah and typically grows at elevations between 9,500 and 11,800 feet.

With a permit from the USDA Forest Service, researchers collected tissue samples from the needles and seeds of a bristlecone pine tree in California’s White Mountains. Scientists at Johns Hopkins University conducted genetic sequencing on the samples. Their work revealed 21,364 protein-coding genes, including genes showing disease resistance and larger-than-average telomere lengths, compared with other conifers. Large telomeres typically signify a longer cell life and slower aging. 

“Assembling a 24 billion base pair genome that is eight times the size of the human genome is a significant technical challenge," said co-author Steven Salzberg, a professor of biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins University. "Despite its great size, though, the genome of bristlecone pine contains only slightly more genes than the human genome. The rest of the genome is filled with millions of repetitive 'junk DNA' sequences, which appear to do no harm to the organism, since it has carried these repeats through millions of years of evolutionary history."

Longevity lessons through genetic sequencing

How can genetic sequencing of a pine tree help us understand longevity in other species? 

“That’s the secret to understanding any organism,” said project lead David Neale, a UC Davis professor emeritus of Plant Sciences, who previously helped sequence the coast redwood, giant sequoia and whitebark pine genomes. “It’s like having a parts list. Sequencing one tree does not give us clear insights as to the genetic basis of longevity. But having a reference genome sequence as it applies to human health and everything else is a necessary reagent in modern biology. There is now a resource from which modern genetic discovery can begin based on this resource.”

The bristlecone pine tree is not a threatened or endangered species. Extreme heat, drought and bark beetles have contributed to the deaths of some bristlecone pines. But the authors note that the species has persisted for millennia through past extreme climate periods. 

“That bristlecone pine has endurance to persist in the face of impacts from climate change is witnessed by the White Mountains populations, which have thrived in place throughout climate extremes for almost 11,000 years – since the last ice age,” said coauthor Constance Millar, an ecologist with the USDA Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest Regional Station.

A genome sequence for the species can help land managers identify genetic materials that may help these trees adapt to future environments.

The authors wrote: “We expect this resource to be used not only by forest tree researchers and land managers, but also by the broader scientific community seeking to understand the genetic basis of longevity in all forms of life.”

Bristlecone pine matters of life and death

Could this work help other species live longer? 

“People ask me those kinds of things: ‘David, tell me which is the longevity gene, and I will clone it, patent it and sell it.’ Of course, it’s massively complex. But there could be some fundamental discovery of the genetic basis of longevity in this one organism that could be applied to other organisms,” Neale said. 

For instance, one theory is that bristlecone pines may not “senesce,” or biologically age and die. Human cells, no matter how well we care for ourselves, eventually die and are not replaced, leading to death. But bristlecone pine trees do not appear to hold the signatures of senescence. Their deaths tend to be caused by outward forces – an axe, or a fierce storm – but not of old age alone. Could it potentially live forever?

“I think that theory is overstated, but you can’t help but have those thoughts when you look at something that can live that long,” said Neale. “Maybe, by having an equivalent study in something that lives to be 5,000 years versus something — or someone — that lives to be 100 could be informative. Maybe not. It could be the bristlecone pine tree is fundamentally unique and nothing lives to be like it.”

The study’s additional coauthors include Aleksey Zimin, Jessica Hosea, Edward Li and Daniela Puiu of Johns Hopkins University, Constance Millar of the USDA Forest Service, and Patrick McGuire of UC Davis. 

The research was funded by the Vaughn-Jordan Foundation through the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation, as well as by the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health.

---

Journal

G3 Genes Genomes Genetics

DOI

10.1093/g3journal/jkag064 

Article Title

Genome Report: A reference genome sequence for the exceptionally long-lived Great Basin bristlecone pine, Pinus longaeva

Article Publication Date

17-Mar-2026

 

A bristlecone pine tree in Nevada's Great Basin National Park.

 

Sequencing the genome of the ancient bristlecone pine, like this one in California's White Mountains, could help unlock the secrets of its longevity.

A stand of bristlecone pine trees in California's White Mountains.

Bristlecone pine trees dot California's White Mountains. Resilient and long-lived, they thrive in cold, windy, rocky, high-elevation mountains of California, Nevada and Utah.  

Credit

Kat Kerlin/UC Davis