Population dynamics of honey bee nucleus colonies exposed to industrial pollutants

Abstract

Summary — Nucleus colonies (nucs) of = 4 500 honey bees (Apis mellifera L) were evaluated as an alternative to full-size colonies for monitoring pollution impacts. Fifty nucs were deployed at 5 sites along a transect on Vashon Island, Washington. This provided a gradient of exposure to arsenic and cadmium from industrial sources. After 40 d, statistically significant differences were observed among sites for mean mass and numbers of bees (P ≤ 0.01), honey yield (P ≤ 0.07), and arsenic and cadmium content of forager bees (P ≤ 0.001). These findings are discussed in terms of exposure to heavy metals and observed changes in colony dynamics, especially brood rearing and hoarding of pollen, nectar, and honey.

Pollinators as bioindicators of the state of the environment: species, activity and diversity

“…They have been advocated as bioindicators in natural, agricultural, industrial and urban milieus (Rousseau, 1972;Drescher, 1982;Celli et al, 1989;Bromenshenk et al, 1985;Stein and Umland, 1987) yet, despite their proven worth, programmes for their use as biomonitors do not seem to have been instituted. Bromenshenk et al (1991) addressed the problem of population dynamics in honeybees with respect to pollution and so expanded concern for the health of pollinators beyond pesticide hazards. Little information is available on the effects of pollutants on other pollinators.…”

Phylogenetic Analysis of Acute Bee Paralysis Virus Strains

“…Such infections are sometimes exacerbated and activated by subservient environmental factors. Besides mite infestation and bacterial infections, pollution and the comprehensive use of chemicals and insecticides in agricultural technology trigger environmental stress in bees (11,16,26). In certain cases, even the acaricides used against Varroa mites have to be blamed for the suppression of the bee's immune system (9).…”

Population dynamics of bee colonies located in airborne contaminated regions

“…Thus, continuous daily exposure of foraging bees to polluted air combined with the increased Pb intake due to the airborne contamination of flowers endanger the overall health status of bee colonies (Pratt and Sicorski 1982;Liakos et al 2002). Surprisingly, very few references concerning the effects of atmospheric pollution in bees can be retrieved from the literature (Bromenshenk et al 1991;Leita et al 1996).…”