Analysis of the effects of climate variables on Apis mellifera pollen foraging performance

Abstract

Pollination services performed by bees are essential for the reproduction of a great part of flowering plants. The pollen collected by Apis mellifera while performing pollination (bee pollen), has been incorporated into the human diet for its favorable nutritional components. Around 1,500 tons of bee pollen are produced annually worldwide, especially in Spain, China, Australia, Argentina, and Brazil. Despite the importance of bee pollen within apiculture, little is known about the effects of climate variations on bee pollen collection and production. We monitored the pollen collection performance of 24 different honey bee colonies in different climate conditions within a period of one year. We then analyzed the statistical interaction among the number of worker bees returning with pollen loads and 12 climatic variables, to produce a predictive mixed linear model. The results obtained showed that 7 climatic variables were statistically correlated to the pollen collection observed: Maximum temperature of the day, minimum temperature of the day, dew point temperature, relative humidity, cloud cover, rainfall, and the date of the sample. This research brings information for the development of a more effective pollen productive system. Keywords: africanized honey bees, bee pollen, climate, foraging, pollination RESUMO

Physicochemical composition and functional properties of bee pollen produced in different locations

“…Studies have shown that bee pollen has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antibacterial and antifungal actions which provide health benefits to its consumer (Pascoal et al, 2014;Denisow & Denisow-Pietrzyk, 2016). However, the components in the pollen vary according to the pollen that the bees collect; it reflects its botanical origin, which, in turn, depends on the climatic conditions, soil type and time of year in which it was collected (Domínguez-Valhondo et al, 2011;Arruda et al, 2013;Ares et al, 2018;Mattos et al, 2018). In addition, commercial bee pollen undergoes a dehydration process to improve its conservation during storage, which also affects its characteristics (Domínguez-Valhondo et al, 2011;De-Melo et al, 2016).…”

Population patterns of two generalist forager bees on canola: effects of sowing season, plant genotype, meteorological factors, and coabundance

“…These results differ from those obtained by Akhtar et al (2018) in Pakistan, who observed a negative correlation with relative humidity. On the other hand, de Mattos et al (2018) found positive correlations between relative humidity and the number of foraging A. mellifera in a tropical region in Brazil, mainly in autumn and winter.…”

“…Crop systems that have different sowing dates and exploit different canola genotypes can significantly influence the population abundance and seasonality of honeybees. This may be due to the indirect effects of the sowing date in conjunction with abiotic variables, such as air temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation, which may favour some species over others (de Mattos et al 2018; Soares et al 2019).…”

Influence of climatic factors and floristic diversity on the foraging activity of Apis mellifera adansonii Latreille in a West African Savannah

“…Indeed, high humidity leads to a dilution of nectar and a disruption of the physical properties of pollen (Alves et al, 2015; Silva et al, 2013) which resulted in less attractiveness of the honey bees to the flower rewards. Periods of rainfall in addition to be positively correlated with relative humidity, make foraging activities almost impossible (De Mattos et al, 2018). Wet periods are linked with periods of low pollen foraging (Schneider & McNally, 1992).…”