Editorial

3 pages, 188 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

The Pollinators in Agricultural Ecosystems

by Bartosz Piechowicz and Anna Koziorowska

Agriculture 2023, 13(5), 1076; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13051076 - 18 May 2023

Viewed by 861

The symbiosis of plants and animals is an evolutionary phenomenon that has been established for millions of years [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Pollinators in Agricultural Ecosystems)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

24 pages, 3120 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Honeybee (Apis spp.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Colony Monitoring Using Acoustic Signals from the Beehive: An Assessment by Global Experts and Our Feedback

by Muhammad Zahid Sharif, Nayan Di and Baizhong Yu

Agriculture 2023, 13(4), 769; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13040769 - 27 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1861

Abstract

Because the sounds emitted by a managed honeybee colony embrace a wealth of information about the status within and outside the beehive, researchers are interested in developing a beehive sound-based assessment of the colony situation. However, how the global experts rank this approach [...] Read more.

Because the sounds emitted by a managed honeybee colony embrace a wealth of information about the status within and outside the beehive, researchers are interested in developing a beehive sound-based assessment of the colony situation. However, how the global experts rank this approach is unclear. We assessed the importance of beehive sound-based colony monitoring using formal expert elicitation. Our results indicate that policy-making bodies should focus on a non-invasive acoustic approach to monitor swarming, honeybee health, pesticides, and environmental pollution at apiaries, as these were considered very important factors with high confidence by global experts. Moreover, all other factors (pests and pathogens, weather conditions, predators, food availability, and spatiotemporal patterns) are rated as important, but experts’ confidence in acoustically monitoring a few of the factors differs. Because experienced forager bees emit bursting sounds during the waggle dance (particularly during the waggle-run phase) at a specific angle on a vertical comb within the hive, we propose an acoustics-based recording setup using a Raspberry Pi and a QuadMic Array to investigate how this sound can predict the spatial and temporal information of the available food sources. In this article, we highlight how the factors falling into the inconclusive category of confidence have the potential to be acoustically monitored. Besides, this paper suggests new and unexplored directions for opening a window for future research in beehive acoustics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Pollinators in Agricultural Ecosystems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 431 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Economic Benefits of Using Essential Oils in Food Stimulation Administrated to Bee Colonies

by Silvia Pătruică, Roxana Nicoleta Lazăr, Genoveva Buzamăt and Marius Boldea

Agriculture 2023, 13(3), 594; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13030594 - 28 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2099

Abstract

Bees are the most important pollinators of agricultural plants. The decline of bee colonies is caused by a multitude of factors of which diseases, pesticides, and climate change seem to be the most important. Losses can be huge when several factors act together. [...] Read more.

Bees are the most important pollinators of agricultural plants. The decline of bee colonies is caused by a multitude of factors of which diseases, pesticides, and climate change seem to be the most important. Losses can be huge when several factors act together. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the use of alternative sources such as medicinal plants in the form of extracts or essential oils. The purpose of our research was to evaluate the economic efficiency of the use of essential oils of basil (Ocimum basilicum), cinnamon (Cinnamomum veruum), clove (Syzgium aromaticum), juniper (Juniperus communis L.), oregano (Oreganum vulgare), mint (Mentha piperita), rosemary (Rosmarius officinalis), and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) in the additional feeding of bee colonies in the spring. Ninety colonies of Apis mellifera bees were used, which were additionally fed with sugar syrup and one of the essential oils. Our results showed strong positive correlations between the total number of germs in the gut of worker bees and the number of brood cells when using the essential oil of oregano (Oreganum vulgare) (R² = 0.786) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) (R² = 0.729), and between the total number of germs and the yield of honey obtained at the first harvest in the case of the essential oil of basil (Ocimum basilicum) (R² = 1), mint (Mentha piperita) (R² = 0.718), oregano (Oreganum vulgare) (R² = 0.621), and Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L) (R² = 0.859). The best profit from the sale of honey was obtained in the case of the use of essential oils of mint, oregano, thyme, and basil, in a range of EUR 139.16–144.73/bee colony. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Pollinators in Agricultural Ecosystems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 2421 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Do Glycogen Content and Thermal Preference in Worker Bees Vary Depending on Geographical Origin? A Comparison of Carniolan Honeybees, Central European Honeybees and Caucasian Honeybees

by Przemysław Grodzicki, Joanna Bacia, Katarzyna Piątkowska and Bartosz Piechowicz

Agriculture 2023, 13(2), 492; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13020492 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1231

Abstract

Among the honeybee subspecies, Polish beekeepers most commonly rear three of them, i.e., Apis mellifera carnica, A. m. mellifera and A. m. caucasica. They differ in morphological and physiological features. Our goal was to find a linkage between their thermal behaviour [...] Read more.

Among the honeybee subspecies, Polish beekeepers most commonly rear three of them, i.e., Apis mellifera carnica, A. m. mellifera and A. m. caucasica. They differ in morphological and physiological features. Our goal was to find a linkage between their thermal behaviour and body glycogen content that could be decisive for their wintering perspective. We compared the temperature preference and body glycogen concentration in six honeybee groups of three subspecies obtained from hives in two seasons, on 12 May 2021 (summer bees) and on 20 September 2020 (autumn bees preparing for wintering). In the Carniolan and Central European honeybees, the glycogen content in worker bodies was higher in autumn bees preparing for wintering than in summer bees. The Caucasian honeybee deviated from this pattern. The choice of ambient temperature by a given subspecies depended neither on the season nor the geographical race. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Pollinators in Agricultural Ecosystems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1371 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Use of Gas Chromatography and SPME Extraction for the Differentiation between Healthy and Paenibacillus larvae Infected Colonies of Bee Brood—Preliminary Research

by Bartosz Piechowicz, Aleksandra Kwiatek, Stanisław Sadło, Lech Zaręba, Anna Koziorowska, Daniela Kloc and Maciej Balawejder

Agriculture 2023, 13(2), 487; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13020487 - 18 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1578

Abstract

Paenibacillus larvae is a deadly pathogen for bee brood, which can lead to the death of entire colonies. The presence of specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the hive may be related to the occurrence of this bacterium in brood. Compositions of those [...] Read more.

Paenibacillus larvae is a deadly pathogen for bee brood, which can lead to the death of entire colonies. The presence of specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the hive may be related to the occurrence of this bacterium in brood. Compositions of those volatile fractions present in healthy brood from control colonies and the brood without symptoms of infection collected from the colonies infected by P. larvae were compared using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and solid phase microextraction (SPME). Among the seven compounds detected and quantified, the relative concentrations of 3-carene and limonene significantly differentiated the brood from healthy and infected colonies. Based on the ratio analysis, the samples were differentiated in terms of the number of emitted VOCs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Pollinators in Agricultural Ecosystems)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

12 pages, 529 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Negligible Effect of Toxic Metal Accumulation in the Flowers of Melliferous Plants on the Mineral Composition of Monofloral Honeys

by Monika Tomczyk, Grzegorz Zaguła, Mateusz Kaczmarski, Czesław Puchalski and Małgorzata Dżugan

Agriculture 2023, 13(2), 273; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13020273 - 22 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1818

Abstract

The accumulation of heavy metals in plant pollen and nectar exposes pollinators to environmental contaminations. Although honeybees act as biofilters and impede the transfer of heavy metals to honey, possible antagonistic interactions could negatively affect the mineral composition of bee-processed nectar. The aim [...] Read more.

The accumulation of heavy metals in plant pollen and nectar exposes pollinators to environmental contaminations. Although honeybees act as biofilters and impede the transfer of heavy metals to honey, possible antagonistic interactions could negatively affect the mineral composition of bee-processed nectar. The aim of this study was to assess the level of harmful metals (Cd, Pd, Hg, Al, Ni and Tl) in relation to essential macro- (K, Ca and Mg) and microelements (Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu and Se) in three melliferous plant species (n = 45)—rapeseed, dandelion, and goldenrod—using the ICP-OES method. Metal transferability to three types of monofloral honey (n = 45) produced from these plants was evaluated. Among the studied plants, goldenrod and dandelion were found to be Cd and Pb accumulators; however, regardless of the plant species, only traces of harmful metals were found in honey (<0.015 and <0.043 mg/kg, respectively). What is more, the adverse impact of accumulated toxic metals (Tl, Cd, Ni, Pb and Al) on Ca, Mg and K levels in plants was noted, though it was not reflected in honey. Our findings suggest that in moderately contaminated environments, toxic metals are not transferred to honey and do not disturb its beneficial mineral composition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Pollinators in Agricultural Ecosystems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 953 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Isolation and Some Basic Characteristics of Lactic Acid Bacteria from Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) Environment—A Preliminary Study

by Aleksandra Leska, Adriana Nowak and Ilona Motyl

Agriculture 2022, 12(10), 1562; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12101562 - 27 Sep 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3931

Abstract

In light of the phenomenon of colony collapse disorder, there has been a growing interest in finding natural and ecological ways for improving honeybee health. The aim of this scientific research was the isolation and characterization of LAB, which in the future could [...] Read more.

In light of the phenomenon of colony collapse disorder, there has been a growing interest in finding natural and ecological ways for improving honeybee health. The aim of this scientific research was the isolation and characterization of LAB, which in the future could show the potential to construct a protective preparation for honeybees. After performing MALDI-TOF analysis, of a total of 76 bacterial strains isolated from flowers and honeybee products, 31 were identified as Pediococcus pentosaceus, 26 as Pediococcus acidilactici, and 19 as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. The characterization of the isolated LAB displayed that CO₂ production was present in 52 strains. The highest biomass productivity was observed in the case of strain 9/1 isolated from red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) with biomass productivity equal to 2.100. All isolated bacterial strains showed the ability to produce lactic acid. The strain 13/3 isolated from small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata L.) displayed the highest lactic acid production capacity in 100 mL of culture, i.e., 1.903 g of lactic acid. The carbohydrate assimilation pattern was examined using API 50 CH tests. All isolated strains were able to utilize esculin, D-ribose, D-galactose, D-glucose D-fructose, and D-mannose. It was also noted that the reduction of sugars is a strain-dependent ability and is specific for individual strains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Pollinators in Agricultural Ecosystems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 4802 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Honey Bee Foraging Decisions Influenced by Pear Volatiles

by Wenting Su, Weihua Ma, Qi Zhang, Xiao Hu, Guiling Ding, Yusuo Jiang and Jiaxing Huang

Agriculture 2022, 12(8), 1074; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12081074 - 22 Jul 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2336

Abstract

The interactions between plants and pollinators are complex. Flower volatiles as special olfactory cues could influence the foraging choices of pollinators. Here, we conducted bioassays to evaluate the role of flower volatiles on the attraction of honey bees (native Apis cerana and exotic [...] Read more.

The interactions between plants and pollinators are complex. Flower volatiles as special olfactory cues could influence the foraging choices of pollinators. Here, we conducted bioassays to evaluate the role of flower volatiles on the attraction of honey bees (native Apis cerana and exotic Apis mellifera) to pears (native Pyrus bretschneideri and exotic Pyrus communis). Chemical and electrophysiological approaches were used to determine flower volatiles and evaluate the antennal responses of honey bees to volatiles from pear flowers. Bioassays demonstrated that flower volatiles were crucial for the attraction of honey bees to pear flowers; honey bees preferred to forage on P. communis flowers (p > 0.05), with approximately 64.37 ± 0.02% (A. mellifera) and 62.10 ± 0.02% (A. cerana) foraging on P. communis. Flowers of P. communis and P. bretschneideri yielded 27 and 31 compounds, respectively, with 17 of them being common. Honey bee antennae responded to 16 chemicals, including 5 contained in both pear species: 1-nonanol, linalool, methyl 2-hydroxy-3-methylpentanoate, methyl L-isoleucinate, and α-farnesene. In addition, there were 8 electrophysiologically active compounds in P. bretschneideri: methyl L-valine ester, benzaldehyde, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, isophorone, 2-methyl octane, longicyclene, longifolene, and caryophyllene; and 3 electrophysiologically active compounds in P. communis: β-ocimene, 4-oxoisophorone and lilac alcohol D. In conclusion, our study demonstrated the significant impact of pear flower volatiles on honey bee foraging choices. This knowledge provides a basis for the selection of honey bees for pear pollination and lays a foundation for further study of the chemical communication of pear attractiveness to honey bees. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Pollinators in Agricultural Ecosystems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

The Pollinators in Agricultural Ecosystems

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (8 papers)

Editorial

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI