內(nèi)羅畢發(fā)展研究所的科學(xué)家報(bào)告說,，蜜蜂可能成為轉(zhuǎn)基因作物向幾千米之外的野生親緣種逃逸的媒介。該研究小組利用昆蟲傳粉豇豆和無線電跟蹤的木蜂Xylocopa flavorufa確定傳粉行為及長(zhǎng)途的花粉流動(dòng)所蘊(yùn)涵的意義,。根據(jù)美國(guó)科學(xué)院院報(bào)（PNAS）發(fā)表的論文,，研究起因是非洲即將釋放的抗蟲遺傳修飾豇豆。
結(jié)果表明,，木蜂的飛行范圍是7.2公里左右,。科學(xué)家們還發(fā)現(xiàn),，木蜂通常在一次覓食往返過程中（從出巢到返巢）訪問兩片野生豇豆枝葉和豇豆地,。然而，結(jié)果表明花粉的運(yùn)動(dòng)超過幾百米的概率很低,。文章的共同作者Remy S. Pasquet說,，由于無法保證試驗(yàn)田周圍沒有野生豇豆或雜草植物，通過地理距離嚴(yán)格隔離轉(zhuǎn)基因植物可能是行不通的。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
PNAS September 9, 2008 vol. 105 no. 36 13456-13461 doi: 10.1073/pnas.0806040105
Long-distance pollen flow assessment through evaluation of pollinator foraging range suggests transgene escape distances
Rémy S. Pasquet*,?,?,§, Alexis Peltier?, Matthew B. Hufford?, Emeline Oudin‖, Jonathan Saulnier‖, Lénaic Paul‖, Jette T. Knudsen**, Hans R. Herren*,??,§, and Paul Gepts?
*International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya;
?Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Département Ressources Vivantes, 213 Rue La Fayette, 75480 Paris Cedex 10, France;
?University of California, Department of Plant Sciences/MS1, Section of Crop and Ecosystem Sciences, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616-8780;
?Maisha Trust, PO Box 34304 (00100), Nairobi, Kenya;
‖Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon, Ecologie des Populations et Communautés, 16 Rue Claude Bernard, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France;
**Lund University, Department of Ecology, Chemical Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Ecology Building, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden; and
??Millenium Institute, 2200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 650, Arlington, VA 22201-3357
Abstract
Foraging range, an important component of bee ecology, is of considerable interest for insect-pollinated plants because it determines the potential for outcrossing among individuals. However, long-distance pollen flow is difficult to assess, especially when the plant also relies on self-pollination. Pollen movement can be estimated indirectly through population genetic data, but complementary data on pollinator flight distances is necessary to validate such estimates. By using radio-tracking of cowpea pollinator return flights, we found that carpenter bees visiting cowpea flowers can forage up to 6 km from their nest. Foraging distances were found to be shorter than the maximum flight range, especially under adverse weather conditions or poor reward levels. From complete flight records in which bees visited wild and domesticated populations, we conclude that bees can mediate gene flow and, in some instances, allow transgene (genetically engineered material) escape over several kilometers. However, most between-flower flights occur within plant patches, while very few occur between plant patches.
