Monitoring free-living honeybee colonies in Germany: Insights into habitat preferences, survival rates, and Citizen Science reliability DOI Open Access
Benjamin Rutschmann, Felix Remter, Sebastian Roth

et al.

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Aug. 6, 2024

ABSTRACT Our understanding of the western honeybee ( Apis mellifera ) predominantly stems from studies conducted within beekeeping environments, leaving presence and characteristics honeybees outside managed settings largely unexplored. This study examined habitats, nesting sites, survival rates free-living colonies through personal monitoring nest sites in Munich (N=107) coordination Citizen Science across Germany (N=423). Within seven years we collected 2,555 observations on 530 311 participants. Nesting preferences differed between urban, rural, forested areas. Overall, found that 31% occupied were buildings 63% mature trees, with clear for specific tree species. On average, only 12% monitored survived annually, a figure aligns well other published but contrasts sharply significantly higher reported by (29%). We yielded fewer updates per colony, underreported abandoned 46% overwintering reports overlapped swarming season had to be excluded. To gain reliable data projects, consistency timing need particular attention regional should too. enhances our ecological dynamics, liminal state, conservation needs cohorts, addresses potential biases, suggests standardized collection protocols future projects.

Language: Английский

Monitoring free-living honeybee colonies in Germany: Insights into habitat preferences, survival rates, and Citizen Science reliability DOI Open Access
Benjamin Rutschmann, Felix Remter, Sebastian Roth

et al.

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Aug. 6, 2024

ABSTRACT Our understanding of the western honeybee ( Apis mellifera ) predominantly stems from studies conducted within beekeeping environments, leaving presence and characteristics honeybees outside managed settings largely unexplored. This study examined habitats, nesting sites, survival rates free-living colonies through personal monitoring nest sites in Munich (N=107) coordination Citizen Science across Germany (N=423). Within seven years we collected 2,555 observations on 530 311 participants. Nesting preferences differed between urban, rural, forested areas. Overall, found that 31% occupied were buildings 63% mature trees, with clear for specific tree species. On average, only 12% monitored survived annually, a figure aligns well other published but contrasts sharply significantly higher reported by (29%). We yielded fewer updates per colony, underreported abandoned 46% overwintering reports overlapped swarming season had to be excluded. To gain reliable data projects, consistency timing need particular attention regional should too. enhances our ecological dynamics, liminal state, conservation needs cohorts, addresses potential biases, suggests standardized collection protocols future projects.

Language: Английский

Citations

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