scholarly journals Epidemiology of Nosema spp. and the effect of indoor and outdoor wintering on honey bee colony population and survival in the Canadian Prairies

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. e0258801
Author(s):  
Rosanna N. Punko ◽  
Robert W. Currie ◽  
Medhat E. Nasr ◽  
Shelley E. Hoover

The epidemiology of Nosema spp. in honey bees, Apis mellifera, may be affected by winter conditions as cold temperatures and differing wintering methods (indoor and outdoor) provide varying levels of temperature stress and defecation flight opportunities. Across the Canadian Prairies, including Alberta, the length and severity of winter vary among geographic locations. This study investigates the seasonal pattern of Nosema abundance in two Alberta locations using indoor and outdoor wintering methods and its impact on bee population, survival, and commercial viability. This study found that N. ceranae had a distinct seasonal pattern in Alberta, with high spore abundance in spring, declining to low levels in the summer and fall. The results showed that fall Nosema monitoring might not be the best indicator of treatment needs or future colony health outcomes. There was no clear pattern for differences in N. ceranae abundance by location or wintering method. However, wintering method affected survival with colonies wintered indoors having lower mortality and more rapid spring population build-up than outdoor-wintered colonies. The results suggest that the existing Nosema threshold should be reinvestigated with wintering method in mind to provide more favorable outcomes for beekeepers. Average Nosema abundance in the spring was a significant predictor of end-of-study winter colony mortality, highlighting the importance of spring Nosema monitoring and treatments.

Author(s):  
Brandon K Hopkins ◽  
Priyadarshini Chakrabarti ◽  
Hannah M Lucas ◽  
Ramesh R Sagili ◽  
Walter S Sheppard

Abstract Global decline in insect pollinators, especially bees, have resulted in extensive research into understanding the various causative factors and formulating mitigative strategies. For commercial beekeepers in the United States, overwintering honey bee colony losses are significant, requiring tactics to overwinter bees in conditions designed to minimize such losses. This is especially important as overwintered honey bees are responsible for colony expansion each spring, and overwintered bees must survive in sufficient numbers to nurse the spring brood and forage until the new ‘replacement’ workers become fully functional. In this study, we examined the physiology of overwintered (diutinus) bees following various overwintering storage conditions. Important physiological markers, i.e., head proteins and abdominal lipid contents were higher in honey bees that overwintered in controlled indoor storage facilities, compared with bees held outdoors through the winter months. Our findings provide new insights into the physiology of honey bees overwintered in indoor and outdoor environments and have implications for improved beekeeping management.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison McAfee ◽  
Abigail Chapman ◽  
Immacolata Iovinella ◽  
Ylonna Gallagher-Kurtzke ◽  
Troy F. Collins ◽  
...  

Eusocial insects live in teeming societies with thousands of their kin. In this crowded environment, workers combat disease by removing or burying their dead or diseased nestmates. For honey bees, we found that hygienic brood-removal behavior is triggered by two odorants – β-ocimene and oleic acid – which are released from brood upon freeze-killing. β-ocimene is a co-opted pheromone that normally signals larval food-begging, whereas oleic acid is a conserved necromone across arthropod taxa. Interestingly, the odorant blend can induce hygienic behavior more consistently than either odorant alone. We suggest that the volatile β-ocimene flags hygienic workers’ attention, while oleic acid is the death cue, triggering removal. Bees with high hygienicity detect and remove brood with these odorants faster than bees with low hygienicity, and both molecules are strong ligands for hygienic behavior-associated odorant binding proteins (OBP16 and OBP18). Odorants that induce low levels of hygienic behavior, however, are weak ligands for these OBPs. We are therefore beginning to paint a picture of the molecular mechanism behind this complex behavior, using odorants associated with freeze-killed brood as a model.


2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-232
Author(s):  
Dylan Cleary ◽  
Allen L. Szalanski ◽  
Clinton Trammel ◽  
Mary-Kate Williams ◽  
Amber Tripodi ◽  
...  

Abstract A study was conducted on the mitochondrial DNA genetic diversity of feral colonies and swarms of Apis mellifera from ten counties in Utah by sequencing the intergenic region of the cytochrome oxidase (COI-COII) gene region. A total of 20 haplotypes were found from 174 honey bee colony samples collected from 2008 to 2017. Samples belonged to the A (African) (48%); C (Eastern Europe) (43%); M (Western Europe) (4%); and O (Oriental) lineages (5%). Ten African A lineage haplotypes were observed with two unique to Utah among A lineage haplotypes recorded in the US. Haplotypes belonging to the A lineage were observed from six Utah counties located in the southern portion of the State, from elevations as high as 1357 m. All five C lineage haplotypes that were found have been observed from queen breeders in the US. Three haplotypes of the M lineage (n=7) and two of the O lineage (n=9) were also observed. This study provides evidence that honey bees of African descent are both common and diverse in wild populations of honey bees in southern Utah. The high levels of genetic diversity of A lineage honey bee colonies in Utah provide evidence that the lineage may have been established in Utah before the introduction of A lineage honey bees from Brazil to Texas in 1990.


1984 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Schopper ◽  
J. Gaus ◽  
R. Claus ◽  
H. Bader

Abstract. The influence of season on testicular steroid production as a parameter of testicular function has been studied in a wild boar. Semen was collected once weekly while it served the dummy. In seminal plasma concentrations of the following steroids were determined by radioimmunoassay: unconjugated testosterone, conjugated testosterone, unconjugated total oestrogens, conjugated total oestrogens and 5α-androst-16-en-3-one ('boar-taint steroid'). All steroids showed a clear seasonal pattern with highest concentrations in autumn and early winter and low levels from January to July. Maxima during the rutting season were 10–25 times greater than average values out of season. During a 2-month-period (mid-July until mid-September) libido was abolished and the wild boar refused to mount the dummy. These results indicate that the seasonal variation in testicular steroid production by the wild boar, regulated by photoperiod, are similar to those of the domestic boar.


2003 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 226-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
JAIME MARTINEZ-URTAZA ◽  
MONTSERRAT SACO ◽  
GUSTAVO HERNANDEZ-CORDOVA ◽  
ANTONIO LOZANO ◽  
OSCAR GARCIA-MARTIN ◽  
...  

A study on the presence of Salmonella spp. in live molluscs was performed, which included a description of the different serovars isolated and their relationship to the marine environment. A total of 2,980 samples of shellfish from Galicia (N.W. Spain) were tested for the presence of Salmonella spp. between September 1998 and August 2001. The overall incidence of Salmonella was 1.8% and showed a slight rise during the 3 years of the study. Mussels and oysters presented a higher incidence than clams and cockles, possibly because of their distinct growing habitat. A seasonal pattern was noted for the isolation of Salmonella spp.: 54% of the isolations were detected from September to November. That nearly 67% of the total Salmonella was isolated from shellfish with fecal coliform levels <300/100 g (the maximum level criteria in the European Communities regulations) supported the view that low levels of fecal coliforms do not necessarily indicate the absence of Salmonella. A total of nine serovars were found in the 54 Salmonella isolated. Salmonella Senftenberg was the most frequent (50%), followed by Salmonella Typhimurium (18%) and Salmonella Agona (17%). Salmonella Senftenberg was detected frequently during the year, whereas the remaining serovars were detected only on occasional contamination events.


1997 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 707-718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles I. Abramson ◽  
Italo S. Aquino ◽  
Gerson A. Azeredo ◽  
James M. Price

Cold is often suggested as an ecological mechanism to prevent the migration of Africanized honey bees. The ability of Africanized honey bees to tolerate cold temperatures was investigated. In one study an observation hive was placed inside a refrigerator at 25°C. The study was conceptualized as a choice experiment in which the colony could remain in a cold environment or leave for a warm environment. Analysis indicated that the bees remained at 9 ± 1°C for 14 days before leaving. In a second series of studies, testing the tolerance to 0°C, 280 bees were placed individually in small metal tubes. The data gathered included survival rate, time to regain consciousness, and ability to feed. Analysis indicated that Africanized bees can survive for up to 3 hr. at 0°C with few ill effects. At 4 hr., however, the survival rate is low. Limitations of the study, the use of cold as a possible deterrent to honey bee mites, and suggestions for additional research are discussed.


1991 ◽  
Vol 331 (1260) ◽  
pp. 123-129 ◽  

Based on population dynamics, tracheal mite ( Acarapis woodi ) parasitism of colonies of honey bees ( Apis mellifera ) appears to be, potentially at least, regulatory and stable. Empirical and theoretical considerations suggest, however, that intracolony population dynamics of mite-honey bee worker seem to be unstable in managed situations where honey bee worker population is allowed to grow unchecked. Experimental studies showed that tracheal mite population levels increased in a managed honey bee colony but were impaired in one in which brood rearing was interrupted by loss of the queen. Mite densities but not prevalence were lowered in experimental swarms kept from rearing brood. We propose that swarming reduces mite density within a colony, therefore implicating modern techniques of hive management in the sudden historical appearance of the mite on the Isle of Wight.


2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lanting Ma ◽  
Ying Wang ◽  
Xiaobo Hang ◽  
Hongfang Wang ◽  
Weiren Yang ◽  
...  

AbstractAlpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), influences honey bee feed intake and longevity. The objective of this study was to research the effect of six dietary ALA levels on the growth and development of Apis mellifera ligustica colonies. In the early spring, a total of 36 honey bee colonies of equal size and queen quality were randomly allocated into 6 groups. The six groups of honey bees were fed a basal diet with supplementation of ALA levels at 0 (group A), 2 (group B), 4 (group C), 6 (group D), 8 (group E), and 10% (group F). In this study, there were significant effects of pollen substitute ALA levels on the feeding amounts of the bee colony, colony population, sealed brood amount, and weight of newly emerged workers (P<0.05). The workers’ midgut Lipase (LPS) activity of group C was significantly lower than that of the other groups (P<0.01). The worker bees in groups B, C, and D had significantly longer lifespans than those in the other groups (P<0.05). However, when the diets had ALA concentrations of more than 6%, the mortality of the honey bees increased (P<0.01). These results indicate that ALA levels of 2 ~ 4% of the pollen substitute were optimal for maintaining the highest reproductive performance and the digestion and absorption of fatty acids in honey bees during the period of spring multiplication. Additionally, ALA levels of 2 ~ 6% of the pollen substitute, improved worker bee longevity.


2012 ◽  
Vol 201 (5) ◽  
pp. 360-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Kjærgaard ◽  
Knut Waterloo ◽  
Catharina E. A. Wang ◽  
Bjørg Almås ◽  
Yngve Figenschau ◽  
...  

AimsTo compare depressive symptoms in participants with low and high serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and to examine whether supplementation with vitamin D3 would improve symptoms in those with low serum 25(OH)D levels.MethodParticipants with low 25(OH)D levels were randomised to either placebo or 40 000 IU vitamin D3 per week for 6 months. Individuals with high serum 25(OH)D levels were used as nested controls. Depressive symptoms were evaluated with the Beck Depression Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Seasonal Pattern Assessment Scale and Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00960232).ResultsParticipants with low 25(OH)D levels (n=230) at baseline were more depressed (P<0.05) than participants with high 25(OH)D levels (n=114). In the intervention study no significant effect of high-dose vitamin D was found on depressive symptom scores when compared with placebo.ConclusionsLow levels of serum 25(OH)D are associated with depressive symptoms, but no effect was found with vitamin D supplementation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Desak Putu Raka Paramita ◽  
Trijoko Trijoko

Research on cutlassfish’s diet has been carried out in several areas, but similar research does not exist or still rarely found in Gunungkidul. The aim of this study is to determine the overall composition of the cutlassfish's food, the most dominant type of food and cutlassfish's growth pattern. Methods including random sampling in the field, measurement of length and weight and identification of food types using stomach analysis method and proximate analysis on both cutlassfish’s muscle and diet. The results of the study then analyzed using the formula by Walpole (1992), length-weight relationship formula according to Le Cren (1951) followed by determining the value of b with the t-test at confidence interval of 96% and condition factor. Food composition and preferences were calculated using numerical and volumetric methods to find the IP (Index of Preponderance) and IRI (Index Relative Importance) values. Composition based on types of food is dominated by fish at 89% with Engraulidae as the main group with total percentage of IP 45.58 and IRI 76.47, respectively. Proximate analysis values indicate low levels of protein (with highest value of 23.82%) and high-moisture content (with highest value of 71.98%) caused by cold temperatures during storage. The regression showed that cutlassfish have an allometric positive growth pattern. The results revealed that the food is sufficient for the growth of cutlassfish (Trichiurus lepturus).


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