The "What they found" section refines the central idea by providing additional nuance that helps readers understand how complex the issue is. It highlights the variation in virus prevalence among bumblebees based on proximity to honeybee apiaries and explains the differences in infection rates for the two viruses, which adds depth to the understanding of how domesticated bees may impact wild bee populations and their health.
All of the honeybee colonies tested by the researchers were positive for both viruses, an unfortunate but common occurrence for commercial colonies.
But the number of wild bumblebees carrying viruses varied depending on the proximity to the domesticated hives. There was also variation between the two viruses.
More than 90 percent of bumblebees collected close to apiaries carried black queen cell virus. In sites farther from apiaries, and where no honeybees were foraging, just under 40 percent were positive for this virus. When the researchers checked for actual infections, they found that the proximity to an apiary wasn't telling of whether a bumblebee was infected with black queen cell virus. That means sites near and far from a commercial beehive had the same abundance of black queen cell virus infections.
The connection was clearer for deformed wing virus infections. Twenty percent of bumblebees foraging close to apiaries carried the virus on their outsides and 10 percent had active infections. But in sites more than a half mile away from an apiary, where honeybees were absent, not a single bumblebee tested positive for deformed wing virus - as a carrier or with an infection..
When the researchers looked at infected flowers, they noticed a similar trend. Of the 20 percent of flowers that tested positive for viruses, all were picked close to apiaries. And the denser the flower patch in these areas, the higher the rate of deformed wing virus infection in bumblebees.
How does the "What they found" section refine the central idea?
(1 point)
It provides additional nuance that helps
• readers understand how complex the issue is.
It uncovers the specifics of what makes
• wild bees sick and answers the question in the title.
It reveals the advances that have been
• made on the topic since the studies began.
• It suggests the author's initial claims were not completely accurate and adjusts them.
1 answer