Honey Bees as Indicators of Radionuclide Contamination: Comparative Studies of Contaminant Levels in Forager and Nurse Bees and in the Flowers of Three Plant Species

1998 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. K. Haarmann
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Comparative Studies ◽  
Radionuclide Contamination

ALSIKE CLOVER POLLINATION BY HONEY BEES IN THE PEACE RIVER REGION

1959 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 505-511 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Pankiw ◽  
C. R. Elliott
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Bumble Bees ◽  
Flowering Period ◽  
Peace River ◽  
River Region ◽  
Native Pollinator ◽  
Seed Yields

Pollination studies involving zero, one and three colonies of honey bees per acre, on commercial alsike clover fields ranging in size from 15 to 75 acres, were conducted in 1954, 1955, and 1957 in the Hinton Trail district of the Peace River Region of Alberta. These studies indicated that in large fields one colony of honey bees per acre is sufficient to pollinate alsike clover, consideration being given to competition of other crops and to the climatic conditions. The influence of competing crops was such that 65- to 75-acre fields, with one colony per acre, were similar in honey bee populations and seed production to 15- to 20-acre fields with three colonies per acre. Competing plant species accounted for 15 to 36 per cent of the pollen collected by honey bees. Fields with the higher populations of pollinators matured earlier than fields deficient in pollinators. A population of 3400 honey bees per acre (0.7 bee per sq. yd.) throughout the flowering period resulted in seed sets up to 82 per cent and seed yields to 375 lb. per acre. Check fields, where no honey bees were supplied, ranged in production from 29 lb. per acre, with a low native pollinator count, to 293 lb. where a pollinator equivalent of 1300 bumble bees per acre was observed. Bumble bees worked alsike clover at the rate of 28.6 florets per minute, as compared to 20.0 for leaf-cutter bees and 18.7 for honey bees.

scholarly journals Busy Bees: Variation in Insect Flower-Visiting Rates across Multiple Plant Species

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret J. Couvillon ◽  
Chandra M. Walter ◽  
Eluned M. Blows ◽  
Tomer J. Czaczkes ◽  
Karin L. Alton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Bumble Bees ◽  
The Other ◽  
Insect Diversity ◽  
Visitation Rates ◽  
Insect Visitation ◽  
Flower Visiting

We quantified insect visitation rates by counting how many flowers/inflorescences were probed per unit time for five plant species (four native and one garden: California lilac, bramble, ragwort, wild marjoram, and ivy) growing in Sussex, United Kingdom, by following individual insects (n=2987) from nine functional groups (honey bees (Apis mellifera), bumble bees (Bombusspp.), hoverflies, flies, butterflies, beetles, wasps, non-Apidae bees, and moths). Additionally, we made a census of the insect diversity on the studied plant species. Overall we found that insect groups differed greatly in their rate of flower visits (P<2.2e-16), with bumble bees and honey bees visiting significantly more flowers per time (11.5 and 9.2 flowers/minute, resp.) than the other insect groups. Additionally, we report on a within-group difference in the non-Apidae bees, where the genusOsmia, which is often suggested as an alternative to honey bees as a managed pollinator, was very speedy (13.4 flowers/minute) compared to the other non-Apidae bees (4.3 flowers/minute). Our census showed that the plants attracted a range of insects, with the honey bee as the most abundant visitor (34%). Therefore, rate differences cannot be explained by particular specializations. Lastly, we discuss potential implications of our conclusions for pollination.

scholarly journals Flowers as viral hot spots: Honey bees (Apis mellifera) unevenly deposit viruses across plant species

PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. e0221800 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha A. Alger ◽  
P. Alexander Burnham ◽  
Alison K. Brody
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Hot Spots

scholarly journals Contribution to the knowledge of melliferous plants: Ethno apicultural survey with beekeepers in the District of Ziguinchor, Kolda and Sedhiou (Senegal)

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Kady Diatta ◽  
William Diatta ◽  
Alioune Dior Fall ◽  
Serigne Ibra mbacké Dieng ◽  
Amadou Ibrahima Mbaye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Foraging Activity ◽  
Nectar Production

An ethno-apicultural survey was carried out for the plant species pollinated by honey bees in the green district of Casamance (South Senegal). This survey followed a well-established questionnaire concerning beekeepers in these areas. The listed melliferous flora was made of 61 species either. It’s divided into 58 genera and 30 families though the most represented are in decreasing order Fabaceae with 12 species (19.67%) followed by Rutaceae and Malvaceae with 4 species (6.55% each), Arecaceae, Anacardiaceae, Combretaceae, Gramineae, Myrtaceae, with 3 species (4.91% each), then Chrysobalanaceae, Lamiaceae, Meliaceae and Rubiaceae with 2 species (3.27% each) and then Acanthaceae, Asteraceae, Canabaceae, Verbenaceae, Apocynaceae, Bignoniaceae, Annonaceae, Hymenocardiaceae, Icacinaceae, Lauraceae, Moringaceae, Musaceae, Celastraceae, Rhizophoraceae, Sapindaceae, Sterculiceae, Moraceae, Ochnaceae, with 1 species (1.63% each). Melliferous plants include 47.54% nectariferous plants followed by nectariferous polliniferous plants with 37.70% and finally polliniferous species with 14.75%. This study enabled us to identify eight (08) species with high melliferous value. To enhance the value of these plants, further studies on foraging activity and nectar production will be led to prove their real melliferous potential.

scholarly journals Pengetahuan Lokal dan Keanekaragaman Tumbuhan Berguna Pada Masyarakat Batulanteh, Pulau Sumbawa, Nusa Tenggara Barat: Sebuah Kajian Etnobotani

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-42
Author(s):  
Mulyati Rahayu ◽  
Nissa Arifa ◽  
Muhamad Nikmatullah ◽  
Ary Prihardhyanto Keim
Keyword(s):  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Forest Conservation ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
Apis Dorsata ◽  
Useful Plants ◽  
Natural Honey

The study was conducted in Batulanteh District, Sumbawa regency, Sumbawa Island, West Nusa Tenggara, which is aimed to reveal the knowledge of the Samawa people on the diversity of useful plants and their uses. It documented 111 plant species, in which 47.5% are used as traditional medicine. Also, the sudy found that wild honey bees (Apis dorsata) is having a conspicuous association with plants in producing natural honey, which plays an important role in the local economy. The interviews with selected respondents showed that the Samawa people totally understand the importance of forest conservation in relation with the existence of the honey bees’ life.

scholarly journals Diverging landscape impacts on macronutrient status despite overlapping diets in managed (Apis mellifera) and native (Melissodes desponsa) bees

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina L Mogren ◽  
María-Soledad Benítez ◽  
Kevin McCarter ◽  
Frédéric Boyer ◽  
Jonathan G Lundgren
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Physiological Status ◽  
Dietary Composition ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Patch Area ◽  
Dietary Analysis ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Agricultural Areas

Abstract Declining pollinator populations worldwide are attributed to multiple stressors, including the loss of quality forage. Habitat management in agricultural areas often targets honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) specifically, with the assumption that native bees will benefit from an ‘umbrella species’ strategy. We tested this theory using a conservation physiology approach to compare the effects of landscape composition and floral dietary composition on the physiological status of honey bees and Melissodes desponsa in eastern South Dakota, USA. The total glycogen, lipid and protein concentrations were quantified from field collected bees. Next-generation sequencing of the trnL chloroplast gene from bee guts was used to evaluate dietary composition. The effects of landscape and dietary composition on macronutrient concentrations were compared between bee species. As the mean land-use patch area increased, honey bee glycogen levels increased, though M. desponsa experienced a decrease in glycogen. Protein levels decreased in honey bees as the largest patch index, a measure of single patch dominance, increased versus M. desponsa. Lipids in both species were unaffected by the measured landscape variables. Dietary analysis revealed that honey bees foraged preferentially on weedy non-native plant species, while M. desponsa sought out native and rarer species, in addition to utilizing non-native plants. Both species foraged on Asteraceae, Oleaceae and Fabaceae, specifically Melilotus sp. and Medicago sp. Dietary composition was not predictive of the macronutrients measured for either species. Together, these data highlight the management importance of including patch area in conservation recommendations, as bee species may have divergent physiological responses to landscape characteristics. While solitary bees may forage on weedy introduced plants in agricultural areas, robust strategies should also reincorporate native plant species, though they may not be preferred by honey bees, to maximize overall health and diversity of pollinator communities.

scholarly journals The worldwide importance of honey bees as pollinators in natural habitats

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1870) ◽  
pp. 20172140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keng-Lou James Hung ◽  
Jennifer M. Kingston ◽  
Matthias Albrecht ◽  
David A. Holway ◽  
Joshua R. Kohn
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Interaction Networks ◽  
Flowering Plant ◽  
Pollinator Effectiveness ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Floral Visitor ◽  
Native And Introduced Ranges ◽  
Plant Pollinator

The western honey bee ( Apis mellifera ) is the most frequent floral visitor of crops worldwide, but quantitative knowledge of its role as a pollinator outside of managed habitats is largely lacking. Here we use a global dataset of 80 published plant–pollinator interaction networks as well as pollinator effectiveness measures from 34 plant species to assess the importance of A. mellifera in natural habitats. Apis mellifera is the most frequent floral visitor in natural habitats worldwide, averaging 13% of floral visits across all networks (range 0–85%), with 5% of plant species recorded as being exclusively visited by A. mellifera . For 33% of the networks and 49% of plant species, however, A. mellifera visitation was never observed, illustrating that many flowering plant taxa and assemblages remain dependent on non- A. mellifera visitors for pollination. Apis mellifera visitation was higher in warmer, less variable climates and on mainland rather than island sites, but did not differ between its native and introduced ranges. With respect to single-visit pollination effectiveness, A. mellifera did not differ from the average non- A. mellifera floral visitor, though it was generally less effective than the most effective non- A. mellifera visitor. Our results argue for a deeper understanding of how A. mellifera , and potential future changes in its range and abundance, shape the ecology, evolution, and conservation of plants, pollinators, and their interactions in natural habitats.

scholarly journals Comparative Studies of the Shear Strength Property of Two Members of the Fabaceae Family with Respect to Their Fibres

2021 ◽  
pp. 72-77
Author(s):  
A. E. Nweze ◽  
E. O. Ojua ◽  
G. C. Ajuziogu ◽  
I. E. Ngele
Keyword(s):  
Shear Strength ◽  
Strength Property ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Comparative Studies ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
T Test ◽  
Timber Species ◽  
Significant Parameter ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Fibre Characteristics

Aim: The shear strength of wood is a very significant parameter required in describing the potential of woods in making wooden structure. This study is aimed at comparing the shear strength of Pentaclethra macrophylla and Erythrophleum suaveolens with respect to their fibre. This is to determine the suitability of including Erythrophleum suaveolens in making traditional motars in order to reduce the demand load on Pentaclethra macrophylla. Methods: The heartwood samples of Pentaclethra macrophylla and Erythrophleum suaveolens for maceration were fixed in specimen bottles containing formalin-acetic-alcohol (FAA) in the ratio 90:5:5 to prevent fungal growth. The preparations involved cutting small clear samples of the heartwood of the two timber species of fabaceae family. The shear strength parallel to the grain test was conducted using a Hounsfield Tensometer. Results: Significant differences were recorded across the fibre characteristics of the two plant species. The share strength of the 25 wood samples from the two plants each fluctuate around 100 to 200 N/mm2.  On the average, P. macrophylla recorded higher shear strength as compared to suaveolens however no significant difference was recorded between the means when tested for significant differences using independent sample t-test. Conclusion: Since the shear strength of E. suaveolens is comparable to that of P. macrophylla, it  is therefore recommended its substitute for the manufacturing of wood based products where P. macrophylla has been in continual usage in order to relieve the pressure and demand on P. macrophylla.

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