The need for weeds: Man-made, non-cropped habitats complement crops and natural habitats in providing honey bees and bumble bees with pollen resources

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 840, P. 156551 - 156551

Published: June 7, 2022

In Europe, honey bees and bumble are among the most important pollinators, there is a growing interest in understanding effects of floral resource availability on their survival. Yet, to date, data nectar pollen supplies available agricultural landscapes still scarce. this paper, we quantify species-, habitat- landscape-scale production Lublin Upland, SE Poland. The per unit area was highest (mean = 2.2-2.6 g/m2) non-forest woody vegetation, field margins fallows, whilst significantly lower amounts were shown be road verges railway embankments 1.3-1.6 g/m2). At landscape scale, natural semi-natural areas (forests meadows/pastures) offered ca. 44% total resources during year. Relatively high (ca. 35% year-round resources) from winter rape, but short-term. Man-made, non-cropped habitats added only 18% mass for pollinators flowering season. However, they provided 66-99% July October. There exists an imbalance throughout Hence, diversity natural, man-made, required support seasonal continuity landscape. Efforts should made secure habitat heterogeneity enhance flower continual pollinators.

Language: Английский

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Bees in the city: Findings from a scoping review and recommendations for urban planning

AMBIO, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 20, 2024

Over the last decades, bee biodiversity has dropped sharply due to land use change, including urbanization. To contrast this, recent research pointed cities as a hotspot for bees. Because of this ambiguity, scoping review been conducted examine urban characteristics that impact bees and how are impacted. A total 276 articles were analyzed against landscape local habitat characteristics. The key findings include first natural areas more valuable since levels higher. Second, generally score better than agricultural rural areas. Third, plant positively influences biodiversity. Fourth, environment strongly affects some traits proportion native For making friendly inclusive, we recommend maintain areas, connect ecosystems, encourage floral abundance diversity increasing size green overall.

Language: Английский

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Analyzing pollen content to assess honey bee (Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758) foraging in an urban area

Arthropod-Plant Interactions, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 19(2)

Published: March 29, 2025

Language: Английский

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Spatio-temporal variation in pollen collected by honey bees (Apis mellifera) in rural-urban mosaic landscapes in Northern Europe

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 20(2), P. e0309190 - e0309190

Published: Feb. 4, 2025

Pollen is a source of protein, lipids, vitamins and minerals for bees other flower-visiting insects. The composition macro- micronutrients pollen vary among different plant species. Honey are long-distance foragers, collecting nectar from plants within several kilometers their hive. Availability the foraging range honey highly dynamic, changing seasonally, across landscapes. In present study, aim was to investigate collected by in rural-urban landscape mosaics typical Northern Europe. Samples corbiculate were 3–9 times during growing season citizen scientist bee keepers total 25 observation apiaries Denmark 2014–2015. Palynological analysis conducted identifying 500 grains per sample type (mostly genus). diversity denoted number types sample, while relative abundance calculated as proportional representation type, if found >1% sample. quantity study years sites measured occurrence each (number samples with present) (total grains). variable, effects season, year, area green urban spaces. terms quantity, few key occurred repeatedly abundantly samples. Only 17 >15 These consistent may impact colony health, hence decisions bees, especially late summer. However, bulk colonies came limited sources, regardless year context Denmark.

Language: Английский

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Extensive loss of forage diversity in social bees owing to flower constancy in simulated environments

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 291(2027)

Published: July 1, 2024

Many bees visit just one flower species during a foraging trip, i.e. they show constancy. Flower constancy is important for plant reproduction but it could lead to an unbalanced diet, especially in biodiversity-depleted landscapes. It assumed that does not reduce dietary diversity social bees, such as honeybees or bumblebees, this has yet been tested. We used computer simulations investigate the effects of on colony diet species-rich and species-poor also explored if communication about food sources, which by many further reduces forage diversity. Our reveal extensive loss owing both environments. Small flower-constant colonies often discovered only 30–50% all available species, thereby increasing risk nutritional deficiencies. Communication interacted with further. Finally, we found source clustering, habitat fragmentation impaired These findings highlight challenges face different landscapes can aid design measures increase improve bee nutrition human-modified

Language: Английский

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Introducing Pollenyzer: An app for automatic determination of colour diversity for corbicular pollen loads

Smart Agricultural Technology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 5, P. 100263 - 100263

Published: June 1, 2023

Pollen is known to be the only source of proteins and fats for honey bees. Therefore, it an important component nutrition, essential brood care a good indicator availability resources in landscape. It also that diverse diet beneficial bee health, relation winter losses. In this work, app presented allows quantify pollen from trap determine its colour diversity automatic way. The closely related actual plant diversity. This correlation conclusions drawn on apicultural importance landscape biodiversity general. way, provides beekeepers with information about nutritional condition their colonies, while scientists can benefit aggregated local biodiversity. free use available as web all devices.

Language: Английский

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Natural color dispersion of corbicular pollen limits color-based classification

ISPRS Open Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12, P. 100063 - 100063

Published: April 1, 2024

Various methods have been developed to assign pollen its botanical origin. They range from technically complex approaches the less precise but sophisticated chromatic assessment, in which colors are used for identification. However, a common challenge lies similarity of different plant species. The advent camera-based bee monitoring systems has sparked renewed interest classifying based on color and offers potential advances honey biomonitoring. Despite promise improved sensor accuracy, critical examination whether diversity within single species may be primary limiting factor lacking. Our comprehensive analysis, includes over 85,000 corbicular 30 major species, shows that average variation each is distinguishable human observer, similar difference between two dissimilar colors. From today's perspective, considerable source makes use alone classify impractical. When picking entire dataset, we report correct type classification rate 67 %. accuracy was highly dependent ranged 0 % rare types with 99 distinct large dispersion highlights need complementary improve reliability color-based identification biomonitoring applications.

Language: Английский

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Methods in melissopalynology: colour determination of pollen pellets for colour vision deficient individuals

Palynology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 46(4), P. 1 - 7

Published: April 5, 2022

Colour is commonly used as an initial proxy for the determination of botanical origin pollen pellets collected by honeybees. However, individuals with Vision Deficiency (colour blindness) will struggle this determination. Here we present a simple and reproducible technique to enable inclusive participation all in pellet colour. The proposed method makes use colour applications on smartphones therefore appropriate large scale citizen science projects. We also highlight need think inclusively when reporting presenting colour-based research findings melissopalynology honeybee research.

Language: Английский

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Honeys from Patagonia revealed notable pesticide residues in small-scale agricultural landscapes in the past decade

International Journal of Pest Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 9

Published: March 6, 2023

Bees are major pollinators of wild and cultivated plants. Pesticides have been pointed out as a driver bee declines notorious honey colony losses, with high pesticide inputs frequently linked to large-scale agriculture. We explored the presence residues in Apis mellifera honeys from region characterised by small-scale agriculture North-western Patagonia, Argentina 2014. compared Argentine European Union (EU) regulations for found, investigated correlation botanical diversity palynological spectrum. identified four pesticides seven ten samples (the organophosphates Chlorpyrifos-ethyl, Pirimiphos-methyl Dichlorvos, pyrethroid Cypermethrin); concentrations higher than maximum residue levels allowed UE. found moderate evidence that number correlated negatively pollen Our results suggest risks due human health also agricultural areas. highlight need strengthen controls Latin America regarding use honey.

Language: Английский

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How Citizen Scientists See their Own Role and Expertise: An Explorative Study of the Perspectives of Beekeepers in a Citizen Science Project

Citizen Science Theory and Practice, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 8(1), P. 26 - 26

Published: June 19, 2023

The mission and definition of citizen science are vividly debated. One the crucial aspects contested is who has agency to define it; another how precise a can should be much these definitions reflective heterogeneity practices perspectives subsumed under label science. In this paper we draw attention citizens themselves actively construct their own roles within project in relation both histories project’s scientists. Drawing on set in-depth interviews with participating Austrian beekeepers INSIGNIA project, show even small, relatively homogenous sample participants, there considerable diversity scientists see roles. We explore articulate different relations towards science, practice as beekeepers, desired role project. conclusion, discuss implications our findings for academic reflection well practical implementation projects.

Language: Английский

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