1
|
Barahona NA, Vergara PM, Alaniz AJ, Carvajal MA, Castro SA, Quiroz M, Hidalgo-Corrotea CM, Fierro A. Understanding how environmental degradation, microclimate, and management shape honey production across different spatial scales. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2024; 31:12257-12270. [PMID: 38227262 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-31913-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Although the abundance, survival, and pollination performance of honeybees are sensitive to changes in habitat and climate conditions, the processes by which these effects are transmitted to honey production and interact with beekeeping management are not completely understood. Climate change, habitat degradation, and beekeeping management affect honey yields, and may also interact among themselves resulting in indirect effects across spatial scales. We conducted a 2-year, multi-scale study on Chiloe Island (northern Patagonia), where we evaluated the most relevant environmental and management drivers of honey produced by stationary beekeepers. We found that the effects of microclimate, habitat, and management variables changed with the spatial scale. Among the environmental variables, minimum temperature, and cover of the invasive shrub, gorse (Ulex europaeus) had the strongest detrimental impacts on honey production at spatial scales finer than 4 km. Specialized beekeepers who adopted conventional beekeeping and had more mother colonies were more productive. Mean and minimum temperatures interacted with the percentage of mother colonies, urban cover, and beekeeping income. The gorse cover increased by the combination of high temperatures and the expansion of urban lands, while landscape attributes, such as Eucalyptus plantation cover, influenced beekeeping management. Results suggest that higher temperatures change the available forage or cause thermal stress to honeybees, while invasive shrubs are indicators of degraded habitats. Climate change and habitat degradation are two interrelated environmental phenomena whose effects on beekeeping can be mitigated through adaptive management and habitat restoration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás A Barahona
- Departamento de Gestión Agraria, Facultad Tecnológica, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago, Chile
| | - Pablo M Vergara
- Departamento de Gestión Agraria, Facultad Tecnológica, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago, Chile.
| | - Alberto J Alaniz
- Departamento de Gestión Agraria, Facultad Tecnológica, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Ingeniería Geoespacial y Ambiental, Facultad Tecnológica, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago, Chile
| | - Mario A Carvajal
- Departamento de Gestión Agraria, Facultad Tecnológica, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago, Chile
| | - Sergio A Castro
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago, Chile
| | - Madelaine Quiroz
- Departamento de Gestión Agraria, Facultad Tecnológica, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago, Chile
| | - Claudia M Hidalgo-Corrotea
- Departamento de Gestión Agraria, Facultad Tecnológica, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago, Chile
| | - Andrés Fierro
- Departamento de Gestión Agraria, Facultad Tecnológica, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hernandez J, Hattendorf J, Aebi A, Dietemann V. Compliance with recommended Varroa destructor treatment regimens improves the survival of honey bee colonies over winter. Res Vet Sci 2021; 144:1-10. [PMID: 35032751 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor affects honey bee colony health and survival negatively, thus compelling beekeepers to treat their colonies every year. A broadly used mite control regimen is based on two organic molecules: formic and oxalic acids. To ensure optimal efficiency, several applications of these acids at pre-defined time points are recommended. These recommendations are mainly based on experiments conducted under controlled conditions. Studies evaluating the effectiveness under natural field conditions are lacking. We enrolled 30 beekeepers in a longitudinal study in three cantons in Switzerland and monitored the management and health of their colonies for two years. We assessed compliance with mite control recommendations and measured V. destructor infestation rates, indexes of colony productivity (brood size and honey harvest), and colony mortality in 300 colonies. We observed a 10-fold increased risk of colony death when beekeepers deviated slightly from the recommended treatment regimen compared to compliant beekeepers (odds ratio: 11.9, 95% CI: 2.6-55.2, p = 0.002). The risk of colony death increased 25-fold in apiaries with substantial deviations from the recommendations (odds ratio: 50.4, 95% CI: 9.7-262.5, p < 0.0001). The deviations led to increased levels of V. destructor infestation ahead of wintering, which was likely responsible for colony mortality. After communicating the apparent link between low compliance and poor colony survival at the end of the first year to the beekeepers, we observed better compliance and colony survival in the second year. Our results highlight the positive impact of compliance with the recommended V. destructor treatment regimen on the health of honeybee colonies and the need to better communicate the consequences of deviating from the recommendations to improve compliance. Compliance also occasionally decreased, which hints at concept implementation constraints that could be identified and possibly addressed in detail with the help of social sciences to further promote honey bee health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julie Hernandez
- Laboratory of Soil Biodiversity, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland; Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland; Interjurasienne Rural Foundation (FRI), Courtemelon, Switzerland.
| | - Jan Hattendorf
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Aebi
- Laboratory of Soil Biodiversity, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland; Institute of Anthropology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Dietemann
- Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, UNIL-Sorge, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|