Performance of honey bees, Apis mellifera Linnaeus in three ecosystem in Laguna, Philippines

Date

2002

Abstract

The population growth rates, life table budget, pollen spectra and honey produced in managed and unmanaged colonies of A. mellifera were compared in three ecosystems in Laguna. Experiments were conducted in Canlubang Industrial Estate, Bay and in Makiling Forest Reserves representing the industrial, agricultural and forest environment, respectively, from August 30, 2000 to May, 2002.The bees exhibited Type 3 survivorship curve both in managed and unmanaged colonies. Egg mortality may be due to extreme temperature and non-viability of the eggs. Larval mortality was due to infection of chalk brood.The population growth of Apis mellifera in agroecosystem was significantly higher than those of the industrial and forest environments. The abundance of melliferous plants in the agroecosystem enhanced the population build-up of A. mellifera. The native species, Apis cerana and Apis dorsata negatively affected the growth of Apis mellifera colonies in the forest ecosystem by aggression and robbing of stores. Mites, Varroa destructor, chalk brood disease and bird predators were observed in all sites. Traces amount of cadmium, lead and chromium were detected in pollen samples from the industrial ecosystem. Deltametrin and cypermetrin pesticides were absent in the honey and pollen samples from the agroecosystem.Fifty-one pollen types were identified from the samples. There was no predominant pollen source. Seven secondary pollen sources were identified: Hygrophila lancea, Acanthaceae type, Convolvulaceae types, Mimosa invisa, Mimosa pudica, Leguminosae types and Palmae types. Family Leguminosae represented most of the pollen types observed. There was an overlap in the pollen types identified from industrial and agroecosystem.Among the three environments studies, the bees performed best in the agroecosystem in terms of population growth and honey production.In spite of diversity in a forest ecosystem, the exotic species A. mellifera failed to exploit the nectar and pollen sources of most plant species. This indicates that A. mellifera has not indeed adapted to natural forest conditions in the tropics.

Document Type

Master Thesis

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 995 2002 E8 M35

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