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dc.contributor.author | Bosua, Henrika Jacomina![]() |
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dc.contributor.author | Nicolson, Sue W.![]() |
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dc.contributor.author | Archer. Catherine Ruth![]() |
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dc.contributor.author | Pirk, Christian Walter Werner![]() |
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dc.date.accessioned | 2019-01-29T09:01:23Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2018-12 | |
dc.description.abstract | Laboratory experiments are vital to exploring the causes of pollinator loss, but for these experiments to be informative, they should attempt to replicate the hive environment and conserve social interactions. It is unclear how honeybee density and group size affect survival and behaviour in the laboratory. We manipulated cage volume (125–1312 ml) and honeybee group size (10–180 bees) and tested the effects on survival and feeding behaviour. Bees were allowed to regulate their intake from two liquid diets with dry ingredient protein: carbohydrate (P:C) ratios of 0:1 and 1:50 (w/w). Intake was consistent across cages, showing that feeding behaviour is largely unaffected by cage conditions. High survival was recorded in cages with a volume of 2.08 ml/bee, which falls within the natural range of 1.9–3.8 ml/bee in nest sites, and in groups of < 60 bees. We suggest that cage volume is more important than group size, and that cage dimensions should be adjusted so that each bee has < 3.0 ml of space. | en_ZA |
dc.description.department | Zoology and Entomology | en_ZA |
dc.description.embargo | 2019-12-01 | |
dc.description.librarian | hj2019 | en_ZA |
dc.description.sponsorship | The BBSRC, NERC, the Welcome Trust, Defra, and the Scottish Government under the Insect Pollinators Initiative (BB/I000968/1). Additional support came from the South African National Research Foundation and the University of Pretoria. | en_ZA |
dc.description.uri | http://link.springer.com/journal/13592 | en_ZA |
dc.identifier.citation | Bosua, H.J., Nicolson, S.W., Archer, C.R. et al. Effects of cage volume and bee density on survival and nutrient intake of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) under laboratory conditions. Apidologie (2018) 49: 734-746. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-018-0595-x. | en_ZA |
dc.identifier.issn | 0044-8435 (print) | |
dc.identifier.issn | 1297-9678 (online) | |
dc.identifier.other | 10.1007/s13592-018-0595-x | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/68288 | |
dc.language.iso | en | en_ZA |
dc.publisher | Springer | en_ZA |
dc.rights | © IINRA, DIB and Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature 2018. The original publication is available at : http://link.springer.comjournal/13592. | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Cage design | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Honeybee (Apis mellifera) | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Laboratory studies | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Nutrient regulation | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Survival | en_ZA |
dc.title | Effects of cage volume and bee density on survival and nutrient intake of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) under laboratory conditions | en_ZA |
dc.type | Postprint Article | en_ZA |