A Regional, Honey Bee-Centered Approach Is Needed to Incentivize Grower Adoption of Bee-Friendly Practices in the Almond Industry

Managed and wild bee populations contribute over $15 billion in pollination services to US agriculture, yet both are declining or becoming increasingly vulnerable to parasites and disease. The loss of healthy and diverse forage is a key driver in bee declines, so incentivizing land managers to adopt diversified bee-friendly management practices such as forage plantings and reduced pesticide use can directly increase food security, pollinator health, and farmer adaptive capacity. To better understand what might incentivize growers to adopt bee-friendly practices, we conducted a survey of California almond growers, whose orchards are entirely dependent on bee pollination and draw nearly 88% of US bee colonies each February to pollinate almond bloom. We asked 329 respondents across all major almond growing regions of CA about their adoption rate and incentives for planting cover crops, pollinator habitat, and practicing the recommended and legally required bee-friendly best management practices, as well as their interest in bee-friendly certification programs. Using a model selection framework, we evaluated which geographic, social, operational, and pollination-service related factors were predictive of bee-friendly practice adoption. We found that no single factor was a statistically significant predictor of adoption across all models, suggesting there is no silver bullet determining bee-friendly practice adoption. However, we discovered that region and concerns about future pollination services consistently emerged as important factors related to all the practices we investigated, except the adoption of legally required BMPs. These findings suggest that a regionally flexible pollinator conservation strategy focused on supporting honey bee colonies might have the highest likelihood of grower participation and adoption.

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Directed evolution of Metarhizium fungus improves its biocontrol efficacy against Varroa mites in honey bee colonies

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-89811-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jennifer O. Han ◽

Nicholas L. Naeger ◽

Brandon K. Hopkins ◽

David Sumerlin ◽

Paul E. Stamets ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Directed Evolution ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽

Management Practices ◽

Abiotic Factors ◽

Control Measures ◽

Residual Effects ◽

Effective Control ◽

Great Promise ◽

Bee Colonies

AbstractEntomopathogenic fungi show great promise as pesticides in terms of their relatively high target specificity, low non-target toxicity, and low residual effects in agricultural fields and the environment. However, they also frequently have characteristics that limit their use, especially concerning tolerances to temperature, ultraviolet radiation, or other abiotic factors. The devastating ectoparasite of honey bees, Varroa destructor, is susceptible to entomopathogenic fungi, but the relatively warm temperatures inside honey bee hives have prevented these fungi from becoming effective control measures. Using a combination of traditional selection and directed evolution techniques developed for this system, new strains of Metarhizium brunneum were created that survived, germinated, and grew better at bee hive temperatures (35 °C). Field tests with full-sized honey bee colonies confirmed that the new strain JH1078 is more virulent against Varroa mites and controls the pest comparable to current treatments. These results indicate that entomopathogenic fungi are evolutionarily labile and capable of playing a larger role in modern pest management practices.

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Selecting a Pesticide Fate Model at the Watershed Scale Using a Multi-criteria Analysis

Water Quality Research Journal ◽

10.2166/wqrj.2006.032 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 41 (3) ◽

pp. 283-295 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Renaud Quilbé ◽

Alain N. Rousseau ◽

Pierre Lafrance ◽

Jacinthe Leclerc ◽

Mohamed Amrani

Keyword(s):

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Ease Of Use ◽

Watershed Scale ◽

Water Quality Standards ◽

Best Management ◽

Multi Criteria Analysis ◽

Selection Framework ◽

Selection Of

Abstract Numerous models have been developed over the last decades to simulate the fate of pesticides at the watershed scale. Based on a literature review, we inventoried thirty-six models categorized as management, research, screening or multimedia models, each of them having specific strengths and weaknesses. Given this large number of models, it may be difficult for potential users (stakeholders or scientists) to find the most suited one with respect to their needs. To help in this process, this paper proposes a pragmatic approach based on a multi-criteria analysis. Selection criteria are defined following the user's needs and classified in five classes: modelling characteristics, output variables, model applicability, possibilities to simulate best management practices (BMPs) and ease of use. The relative importance of each criterion is quantified by a weight and the total score of a model is calculated by adding the resulting weights of satisfied criteria. This selection framework is illustrated with a case study that consists in selecting a model to develop water quality standards at the watershed scale with respect to the implementation of BMPs. This resulted in the selection of three models: BASINS, SWAT and GIBSI.

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Adoption of Best Management Practices for Herbicide-Resistant Weeds in Midsouthern United States Cotton, Rice, and Soybean

Weed Technology ◽

10.1614/wt-d-13-00087.1 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 788-797 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Dilpreet S. Riar ◽

Jason K. Norsworthy ◽

Lawrence E. Steckel ◽

Daniel O. Stephenson ◽

Thomas W. Eubank ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Cultural Practices ◽

Direct Mail ◽

Rice Seed ◽

Planting Dates ◽

Row Crops ◽

Herbicide Resistant ◽

Best Management

In fall 2011, cotton and soybean consultants from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee were surveyed through direct mail and on-farm visits, and rice consultants from Arkansas and Mississippi were surveyed through direct mail to assess the importance and level of implementation of herbicide resistance best management practices (HR-BMPs) for herbicide-resistant weeds. Proper herbicide timing, clean start with no weeds at planting, application of multiple effective herbicide modes of action, use of full labeled herbicide rates, and prevention of crop weed seed production with importance rating of ≥ 4.6 out of 5.0 were perceived as the most important HR-BMPs in all crops. Purchase of certified rice seed was on 90% of scouted hectares. In contrast, least important HR-BMPs as perceived by consultants with importance ratings of ≤ 4.0 in cotton, ≤ 3.7 in rice, and ≤ 3.8 in soybean were cultural practices such as manual removal of weeds; tillage including disking, cultivation, or deep tillage; narrow (≤ 50 cm)-row crops, cover crops, and altered planting dates. Narrow crop rows and cover crops in cotton; altered planting dates in cotton and soybean; and cleaning of farm equipment and manual weeding in rice and soybean is currently employed on ≤ 20% of scouted hectares. Extra costs, time constraints, adverse weather conditions, lack of labor and equipment, profitability, herbicide-related concerns, and complacency were perceived as key obstacles for adoption of most HR-BMPs. With limited adoption of most cultural practices that reduce risks of herbicide-resistant weeds, there are opportunities to educate growers concerning the proactive need and long-term benefits of adopting HR-BMPs to ensure sustainable weed management and profitable crop production.

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Occurrence and Phylogenetic Analysis of DWV in Stingless Bee (Apidae sp.) in China: A Case Report

Frontiers in Insect Science ◽

10.3389/finsc.2021.748074 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

Author(s):

Lina Zhang ◽

Yanchun Deng ◽

Hongxia Zhao ◽

Ming Zhang ◽

Chunsheng Hou

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Stingless Bees ◽

Vital Role ◽

Stingless Bee ◽

Pollination Services ◽

Important Indicator ◽

Bee Colonies ◽

Bee Viruses

Honey bees play a vital role in providing pollination services for agricultural crops and wild flowering plants. However, the spillover risk of their pathogens to other pollinators or wild insects is becoming a cause for concern. There is some evidence that stingless bees can carry honey bee viruses, but little is known about the presence of honey bee viruses in stingless bees in China. Here, we investigate the occurrence of major honey bee pathogens including bacteria, fungi, and viruses in stingless bees (Apidae: sp.). Our results show that the stingless bees (Apidae: sp.) were mainly infected with DWV-A, but no DWV-B and DWV-C. Phylogenetic analysis on fragments of lp, RdRp, and VP3 of DWV-A indicated that genetic variation in VP3 might an important indicator for host-specific viruses, but it requires further study. Our results indicated that DWV-A is not only the major strain of virus currently circulating in managed bee colonies in China and globally, but in stingless bee species as a whole.

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Managing Phosphorus Loss from Agroecosystems of the Midwestern United States: A Review

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10040561 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 561

Author(s):

Gurbir Singh ◽

Gurpreet Kaur ◽

Karl Williard ◽

Jon Schoonover ◽

Kelly A. Nelson

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Additional Research ◽

Soil Matrix ◽

Site Specific ◽

Midwestern United States ◽

P Loss

Best management practices (BMPs) are site-specific and their implementation, long-term management, and maintenance are important for successful reduction of phosphorus (P) loss into headwater streams. This paper reviews published research on managing P loss from agricultural cropping systems in the Midwestern United States and classified the available research based on BMPs and their efficacy in reducing P loss. This review paper also identifies the areas where additional research could provide insight for managing P losses. Our literature review shows that cover crops, reduced tillage, saturated buffers, and constructed wetlands are the most evaluated areas of current research. However, additional research is necessary on the site-specific area to measure the effectiveness of BMPs in managing P loss. The BMPs that serve as a sink of P need further evaluation in long-term field-scale trials. Studies evaluating adsorption and desorption mechanisms of P in surface and subsurface soils with materials or amendments that bind P in the soil are needed. The time required and pathways, where the flush of available P is lost or fixed in the soil matrix, need further investigation. Measured P loss from BMPs like bioreactors and saturated buffers supplemented with P adsorption materials or filters need to be simulated with models for their prediction and validation. Field evaluations of P index and critical source area concepts should be investigated for identifying problematic areas in the watersheds. Identification of overlapping areas of high P source and transport can help in strategic planning and layout, thereby resulting in reducing the cost of implementing BMPs at field and watershed scales.

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The distribution and population dynamics of the honey bee pathogens Crithidia mellificae and Lotmaria passim in New Zealand

10.26686/wgtn.17068349 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Tammy Leigh Waters

Keyword(s):

Population Dynamics ◽

New Zealand ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Management Practices ◽

Bumble Bee ◽

Strong Positive Correlation ◽

Colony Losses ◽

Positive Correlation ◽

Bee Colonies ◽

Lotmaria Passim

<p>The honey bee Apis mellifera is experiencing colony losses across the world, this is not the first time in history colony losses have been reported. New molecular detection methods such as real-time PCR allow the detection and analysis of pathogens present in colonies, quickly and reliably. Of the pathogens that the honey bee is host to, trypanosomes are one of the least understood and trypanosome interactions within the honey bee host remain largely unknown. Using the bumble bee as a model for this host-parasite relationship. The trypanosome C. bombi is known to cause a reduced ability to gain nutrients from food and an overall decrease in efficiency of queens in founding colonies in spring. These negative correlations are significant enough in the bumble bee to warrant investigation into trypanosomes in the honey bee. The trypanosome C. mellificae was first described in the honey bee in 1967. A screening study in 2009 included a test for and detected the trypanosome in modern honey bee samples. In 2013 C. mellificae was identified as a contributory factor to overwintering colony losses when co-infected with N. ceranae. Following studies detected trypanosomes and led to the characterisation of a new species, L. passim in 2013. Lotmaria passim was first detected in New Zealand in 2014 however no subsequent studies had been undertaken to identify the distribution and dynamics of trypanosomes in New Zealand honey bee colonies. My goal in this study was to identify the presence of trypanosomes in New Zealand. In an overview study of 47 honey bee colonies from across New Zealand, 46 were positive for the L. passim species. Identified by sequencing of the GAPDH gene. A yearlong study of 15 colonies revealed that the infection rate of L. passim was consistent throughout the year and very low genetic variation was detected. Lotmaria passim was detected in all parts of New Zealand sampled in this study and often in high levels. A positive correlation was detected when L. passim was present in addition to N. apis. There was no detection of C. mellificae in my study. The lack of detection of C. mellificae may suggest that the species is not present, or that it is in such low levels it cannot yet be detected. In parallel to this trypanosome study two Nosema spp. and DWV were also examined. Nosema apis was found to be more prevalent than N. ceranae, which was not present in any South Island samples. A strong positive correlation was detected between the two Nosema spp. DWV showed a high level of variation likely a reflection of differing Varroa management practices in apiaries in this study. This study of trypanosomes is the first of its kind in New Zealand identifying the presence and population dynamics of L. passim. This in conjunction with data on Nosema spp. and DWV will be of value to the New Zealand apiculture industry and contribute to global honey bee health studies.</p>

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Improving Nitrogen Efficiency: Lessons from Malawi and Michigan

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/tsw.2001.307 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 42-48 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Sieglinde Snapp ◽

Heather Borden ◽

David Rohrbach

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Transfer Functions ◽

Growth Potential ◽

Nitrogen Efficiency ◽

Residual Soil ◽

N Losses ◽

N Efficiency

Two case studies are presented here of nitrogen (N) dynamics in potato/maize systems. Contrasting systems were investigated from (1) the highland tropics of Dedza, Malawi in southern Africa and (2) the northern temperate Great Lakes region of Michigan. Formal surveys were conducted to document grower perceptions and N management strategies. Survey data were linked with N budgets conducted by reviewing on-farm data from representative farms in the targeted agroecosystems and simulation modeling to estimate N losses. Potential N-loss junctures were identified. Interventions that farmers might accept are discussed. The Malawi system uses targeted application of very small amounts of fertilizer (average 18 kg N ha-1) to growing plants. This low rate is on the steep part of plant response to N curve and should serve to enhance efficiency; plant growth, however, is generally stunted in Malawi due to degraded soils and weed competition. Very limited crop yields reduce N efficiency from a simulated 60 kg grain per kg N to an actual of ~20 kg grain per kg N (at 40 kg N ha-1applied). Legume-intensified systems could improve growth potential and restore N use efficiency through amelioration of soil quality and transfer functions and from biological fixation N inputs. In the Michigan system, N efficiency is enhanced currently through multiple, split applications of N fertilizer tailored to plant growth rate and demand. Fertilizer N rates used by growers, however, averaged 32% higher than recommended rates and 40% higher than N removed in crop product. Application of 50 kg N ha-1to cover crops in the fall may contribute to the apparent high potential for N leaching losses. Careful consideration of N credits from legumes and residual soil N would improve N efficiency. Overall, N budgets indicated 0 to 20 kg N ha-1loss potential from the Malawi systems and tenfold higher loss potential from current practice in Michigan maize/potato rotations. Best management practices, with or without integration of legumes, could potentially reduce N losses in Michigan to a more acceptable level of about 40 kg N ha-1.

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Diversity and nutritional value of pollen harvested by honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies during lowbush blueberry and cranberry (Ericaceae) pollination

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/tce.2020.29 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 152 (5) ◽

pp. 622-645

Author(s):

Claude Dufour ◽

Valérie Fournier ◽

Pierre Giovenazzo

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Amino Acid Content ◽

Essential Amino Acids ◽

Nutritional Deficiencies ◽

Pollination Services ◽

Lowbush Blueberry ◽

Bee Colonies

AbstractThe growth of the commercial pollination industry raises important concerns regarding honey bee (Apis mellifera Linnaeus; Hymenoptera: Apidae) health and development. While providing such services, honey bees are often exposed to undiversified pollen sources that may contribute to nutritional deficiencies, notably in protein and amino acids. To understand how honey bees are affected during provision of pollination services, we compared honey bee colonies that pollinated lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton; Ericaceae) and/or cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton; Ericaceae) crops (management strategies) with control colonies in a diversified farmland environment. We identified the floral species of pollen collected by honey bee colonies in those crops compared to pollen collected by control colonies. We also analysed the protein and essential amino acid content of collected pollen and bee bread and measured the nutritional impact of pollination services on honey bee colonies. We found that honey bees providing blueberry and/or cranberry pollination services are exposed to a less diversified pollen diet than colonies located in a farmland environment, especially in a cranberry field. There was a significantly lower proportion of crude protein content in collected and stored pollen during provision of blueberry pollination services, which led to a smaller brood population. Many nutritional deficiencies were measured with regards to essential amino acids.

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The Effect of Migratory Beekeeping on the Infestation Rate of Parasites in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Colonies and on Their Genetic Variability

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9010022 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 22

Author(s):

Laura Jara ◽

Carlos Ruiz ◽

Raquel Martín-Hernández ◽

Irene Muñoz ◽

Mariano Higes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Varroa Destructor ◽

Infestation Rate ◽

Genetic Composition ◽

Pollination Services ◽

Deformed Wing Virus ◽

Extended Practice ◽

Bee Colonies ◽

Migratory Period

Migratory beekeeping is a widely extended practice aimed at increasing the yield of products and pollination services of honey bee colonies. However, it represents a stress factor, as it facilitates the dissemination of diseases and may compromise the genetic identity of the colonies involved. To analyze the extent of these effects, pathogens infestation rate and genetic composition were monitored in a field experiment comparing stationary and migratory colonies sharing the same environmental conditions but differing in management (stationary vs. migratory) and genetic background. We studied the pathogens infestation rate (Varroa destructor, Nosema spp., and Deformed Wing Virus (DWV)) at four different times: before migratory operation, two weeks later, at the end of the migratory period, and two weeks after the return of the migratory hives. An increased incidence of V. destructor and Nosema ceranae and a lower DWV viral load were found in migratory colonies. Temporary changes in genetic diversity were detected regardless of colony type, suggesting that stressors other than management affect the genetic diversity of the colonies. Our study demonstrates that migratory practices have variable effects on the health and genetic diversity of honey bee colonies, which should be taken into account for the development of sustainable beekeeping.

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Spatial distribution and seasonal movement patterns of reintroduced Chinese giant salamanders

BMC Zoology ◽

10.1186/s40850-019-0046-9 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lu Zhang ◽

Hu Zhao ◽

Scott Willard ◽

Qijun Wang ◽

Wei Jiang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Best Management Practices ◽

Spatial Ecology ◽

Management Practices ◽

Movement Patterns ◽

Dispersal Distance ◽

The Body ◽

Central China ◽

Conservation Strategy ◽

Heihe River ◽

Daily Movement

Abstract Background Very little is known about the temporal or spatial movement patterns of Chinese giant salamanders (Andrias davidianus) due to their rarity, remote habitat and secretive nature. Commercial breeding farms provide a unique opportunity as a source of animals for reintroduction and spatial ecology studies, which will help inform conservation management efforts for this threatened species. We surgically implanted radio transmitters into the body cavity of 31 juvenile giant salamanders, and these salamanders were subsequently released into two small river systems (Donghe and Heihe Rivers) located in the Qinling Mountains of central China and were monitored daily from May 2013 to August 2014. Results Only two salamanders survived through the end of the project at the Heihe River compared with 12 at the Donghe River, thus movement data for salamanders released at the Heihe river are described individually. The overall sedentariness (ratio of no movement to all observations) for the two salamanders at the Heihe River was 0.29 and 0.28 compared to the average sedentariness of 0.26 ± 0.01 for the 12 salamanders at the Donghe River. Mean daily movement was 15.4 m ± 0.7 at the Heihe River compared to 9.3 m ± 0.3 at the Donghe River. Overall linear home range (LHR) was 246 m and 392 m for the two salamanders at the Heihe River, compared with a mean LHR of 227.2 m ± 70.5 at the Donghe River. The Donghe salamanders exhibited different movement patterns across seasons, having higher sedentariness, shorter daily movement, and smaller LHR in winter than in summer. Up-stream dispersal and fidelity to release site were recorded at both rivers. The mean dispersal distance for the Donghe River salamanders was 145.3 m ± 61.9, while the two surviving salamanders at the Heihe River had a dispersal distance of 211 m and 205 m. Conclusions This project provides important insights on the movement ecology of a large aquatic salamander species, and in particular, our results may assist with reintroduction efforts by developing best management practices on when and where to release animals as a conservation strategy.

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