A comparative analysis of the hemolymph total protein banding pattern of absconding and non-absconding colonies of Apis cerena F. (Hymnoptera : Apidae)

Date

3-1994

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Biology

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Rita P. Laude

Abstract

The total protein banding patterns of the hemolymph of Apis cerona nurse bee workers from absconding (unmaintained colonies or colonies maintained for 2 to 8 months only) and non-absconding (colonies maintained for 2 to 4 years) colonies were compared using SDS-PAGE. Ten nurse bee workers per colony (using 2 absconding and 3 non-absconding colonies per site) were collected from Lipa in Batangas and Los Banos, Bay and Rizal in Laguna. A total of forty six (46) protein bands were resolved. A single band (band no. 28) was found to be present in the non-absconding population and absent in the absconding population. Significant differences in the frequency of occurrence of several bands were also noted. In order to examine variability in the protein band patterns between individual bees and between colonies, similarity indices were computed. Results showed that for both absconding and non-absconding populations, similarity of the band patterns was low. This variability may be due to individual physiological differences and intercolony differences such as amount of food and possible infections. Similarity indices between colonies from different sites were also computed and the results obtained indicated that there were little differences in the band patterns of workers from different sites. From this study, it can be concluded that differences exist in the protein band patterns of absconding and non-absconding nurse bee workers. In order to ultimately establish these differences, further studies would have to be done. The author recommends the rearing of Apis cerona colonies to be able to establish truly absconding and non-absconding colonies. Increasing the number of individual bee samples per colony would also help in establishing the protein band differences.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

Thesis

Document Type

Thesis

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