Density of wild honey bee, Apis mellifera, colonies worldwide
Abstract The western honey bee, Apis mellifera, lives worldwide in approximately 102 million managed hives but also wild throughout much of its native and introduced range. Despite the global importance of A. mellifera as a crop pollinator, wild colonies have received comparatively little attention...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10609 |
| _version_ | 1797648364367511552 |
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| author | Oliver D. Visick Francis L. W. Ratnieks |
| author_facet | Oliver D. Visick Francis L. W. Ratnieks |
| author_sort | Oliver D. Visick |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The western honey bee, Apis mellifera, lives worldwide in approximately 102 million managed hives but also wild throughout much of its native and introduced range. Despite the global importance of A. mellifera as a crop pollinator, wild colonies have received comparatively little attention in the scientific literature and basic information regarding their density and abundance is scattered. Here, we review 40 studies that have quantified wild colony density directly (n = 33) or indirectly using genetic markers (n = 7) and analyse data from 41 locations worldwide to identify factors that influence wild colony density. We also compare the density of wild and managed colonies at a regional scale using data on managed colonies from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Wild colony densities varied from 0.1 to 24.2/km2 and were significantly lower in Europe (average of 0.26/km2) than in Northern America (1.4/km2), Oceania (4.4/km2), Latin America (6.7/km2) and Africa (6.8/km2). Regional differences were not significant after controlling for both temperature and survey area, suggesting that cooler climates and larger survey areas may be responsible for the low densities reported in Europe. Managed colony densities were 2.2/km2 in Asia, 1.2/km2 in Europe, 0.2/km2, in Northern America, 0.2/km2 in Oceania, 0.5/km2 in Latin America and 1/km2 in Africa. Wild colony densities exceeded those of managed colonies in all regions except Europe and Asia. Overall, there were estimated to be between two and three times as many wild colonies as managed worldwide. More wild colony surveys, particularly in Asia and South America, are needed to assess the relative density of wild and managed colonies at smaller spatial scales. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:30:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-60f8185e7cc84eadae2bb97e589ee2e2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:30:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-60f8185e7cc84eadae2bb97e589ee2e22023-10-27T04:40:51ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582023-10-011310n/an/a10.1002/ece3.10609Density of wild honey bee, Apis mellifera, colonies worldwideOliver D. Visick0Francis L. W. Ratnieks1Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects (LASI), School of Life Sciences University of Sussex Brighton UKLaboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects (LASI), School of Life Sciences University of Sussex Brighton UKAbstract The western honey bee, Apis mellifera, lives worldwide in approximately 102 million managed hives but also wild throughout much of its native and introduced range. Despite the global importance of A. mellifera as a crop pollinator, wild colonies have received comparatively little attention in the scientific literature and basic information regarding their density and abundance is scattered. Here, we review 40 studies that have quantified wild colony density directly (n = 33) or indirectly using genetic markers (n = 7) and analyse data from 41 locations worldwide to identify factors that influence wild colony density. We also compare the density of wild and managed colonies at a regional scale using data on managed colonies from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Wild colony densities varied from 0.1 to 24.2/km2 and were significantly lower in Europe (average of 0.26/km2) than in Northern America (1.4/km2), Oceania (4.4/km2), Latin America (6.7/km2) and Africa (6.8/km2). Regional differences were not significant after controlling for both temperature and survey area, suggesting that cooler climates and larger survey areas may be responsible for the low densities reported in Europe. Managed colony densities were 2.2/km2 in Asia, 1.2/km2 in Europe, 0.2/km2, in Northern America, 0.2/km2 in Oceania, 0.5/km2 in Latin America and 1/km2 in Africa. Wild colony densities exceeded those of managed colonies in all regions except Europe and Asia. Overall, there were estimated to be between two and three times as many wild colonies as managed worldwide. More wild colony surveys, particularly in Asia and South America, are needed to assess the relative density of wild and managed colonies at smaller spatial scales.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10609Apis melliferabeekeepingbiogeographynatural selectionpopulation sizewild colony density |
| spellingShingle | Oliver D. Visick Francis L. W. Ratnieks Density of wild honey bee, Apis mellifera, colonies worldwide Ecology and Evolution Apis mellifera beekeeping biogeography natural selection population size wild colony density |
| title | Density of wild honey bee, Apis mellifera, colonies worldwide |
| title_full | Density of wild honey bee, Apis mellifera, colonies worldwide |
| title_fullStr | Density of wild honey bee, Apis mellifera, colonies worldwide |
| title_full_unstemmed | Density of wild honey bee, Apis mellifera, colonies worldwide |
| title_short | Density of wild honey bee, Apis mellifera, colonies worldwide |
| title_sort | density of wild honey bee apis mellifera colonies worldwide |
| topic | Apis mellifera beekeeping biogeography natural selection population size wild colony density |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10609 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT oliverdvisick densityofwildhoneybeeapismelliferacoloniesworldwide AT francislwratnieks densityofwildhoneybeeapismelliferacoloniesworldwide |