"Are Commercial Honeybees Making Wild Bees Sick?"

Question

by Berly McCoy

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.

Researchers claimed they found a relationship between bumblebee infections and how close the bumblebees were to honeybee apiaries. What evidence from the text best supports this analysis?

(1 point)
Responses

the percentage of flowers that tested positive for viruses and their proximity to apiaries
the percentage of flowers that tested positive for viruses and their proximity to apiaries

the fact that all the honeybee apiaries researchers tested were infected with both viruses
the fact that all the honeybee apiaries researchers tested were infected with both viruses

the fact that there was a difference between the two types of viruses researchers tested
the fact that there was a difference between the two types of viruses researchers tested

the percentage of bumblebees infected base on their proximity to apiaries
the percentage of bumblebees infected base on their proximity to apiaries

Answer 1

The best evidence from the text that supports the researchers' analysis of the relationship between bumblebee infections and their proximity to honeybee apiaries is:

the percentage of bumblebees infected based on their proximity to apiaries.

This option directly relates to the findings regarding how the distance to commercial hives affects infection rates in bumblebees, despite the noted inconsistencies with actual infections of black queen cell virus.