BBSRC IPA: Honeybee population dynamics: Integrating the effects of factors within the hive and in the landscape
Lead Research Organisation:
Rothamsted Research
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
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Technical Summary
The aim of the project is to explore and make predictions about the relative importance of, and interactions between, the multitude of factors that affect honeybee colony strength and survival in arable landscapes. We will combine modelling and empirical evidence in a 'systems ecology' approach, to ensure the potential importance of un-measured interactions between factors can be evaluated.
Objectives:
1 Systematic survey and pattern analysis of existing data on honeybee colony growth and survival in response to pathogens, parasites and other pests to identify key parameters to build a model predicting colony growth and survival.
2 Characterise and compare the distribution of honeybee foragers from healthy and diseased colonies in different arable landscapes to parameterise a forager model (Obj 3).
3 Build a model to predict honeybee forager distributions in the landscape, and resource return to the colony, using data on foraging patterns (some collected in Obj 2) and spatially-explicit cropping scenarios.
4 Develop an integrated model predicting the survival and strength of honeybee colonies based on combining the effects of factors acting 'within hive' (from Obj 1) and factors 'outside of the hive' (e.g. landscape structure and forage availability from Obj 2 & 3).
5 Verify the output of the integrated model by experimentally testing the relative importance of, and interaction between disease / parasite load and food availability on honeybee colony growth and survival, and compare the results with the model output.
The results of these experiments, and the modelling, will provide us with an insight into the varying significance of disease and resource-related factors on the survival of bees in arable landscapes, and allow us to predict the bees' response to changes in farming practices or disease thresholds.
Objectives:
1 Systematic survey and pattern analysis of existing data on honeybee colony growth and survival in response to pathogens, parasites and other pests to identify key parameters to build a model predicting colony growth and survival.
2 Characterise and compare the distribution of honeybee foragers from healthy and diseased colonies in different arable landscapes to parameterise a forager model (Obj 3).
3 Build a model to predict honeybee forager distributions in the landscape, and resource return to the colony, using data on foraging patterns (some collected in Obj 2) and spatially-explicit cropping scenarios.
4 Develop an integrated model predicting the survival and strength of honeybee colonies based on combining the effects of factors acting 'within hive' (from Obj 1) and factors 'outside of the hive' (e.g. landscape structure and forage availability from Obj 2 & 3).
5 Verify the output of the integrated model by experimentally testing the relative importance of, and interaction between disease / parasite load and food availability on honeybee colony growth and survival, and compare the results with the model output.
The results of these experiments, and the modelling, will provide us with an insight into the varying significance of disease and resource-related factors on the survival of bees in arable landscapes, and allow us to predict the bees' response to changes in farming practices or disease thresholds.
Planned Impact
unavailable
