The Buzz Changes within Time: Native <i>Apis mellifera mellifera</i> Honeybee Subspecies Less and Less Popular among Polish Beekeepers Since 1980
Socio-cultural research might address anthropocentric reasons for honeybee (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) conservation. In some regions, particular honeybee subspecies are considered to be native; <i>A. mellifera mellifera</i> (“dark bee”) in the north-east and <i>A. mellifera...
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/7/652 |
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| author | Małgorzata Bieńkowska Aleksandra Splitt Paweł Węgrzynowicz Robert Maciorowski |
| author_facet | Małgorzata Bieńkowska Aleksandra Splitt Paweł Węgrzynowicz Robert Maciorowski |
| author_sort | Małgorzata Bieńkowska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Socio-cultural research might address anthropocentric reasons for honeybee (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) conservation. In some regions, particular honeybee subspecies are considered to be native; <i>A. mellifera mellifera</i> (“dark bee”) in the north-east and <i>A. mellifera carnica</i> in the Island Beskids in Poland. Additionally, <i>A. mellifera caucasia</i> (often incorrectly called <i>A. mellifera caucasica</i>) and Buckfast are reported across Poland. In order to verify the actual choice of beekeepers, a survey on honeybee subspecies kept in apiaries was conducted annually from 1980 to 2018. This is a way to verify if conservation management towards the dark bee influenced its maintenance at a sufficient level for their restoration. The analysis revealed that Polish beekeepers know what is “buzzing” in their hives, and the awareness of which subspecies/types of honeybee they maintain has grown through the years. Initially, they kept up to four different subspecies per apiary, but now most have only one (maximum of two). Currently, Polish apiaries approach a homogeneous share with the exclusive presence of <i>A. mellifera carnica</i> subspecies. The popularity of indigenous <i>A. mellifera mellifera</i> has declined over time and is low now. It seems that new solutions should be considered to increase the effectiveness of dark European bee conservation management efforts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:49:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b0937f7c40944262b64b604c3b6a5a9e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:49:08Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-b0937f7c40944262b64b604c3b6a5a9e2023-11-22T02:57:04ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722021-07-0111765210.3390/agriculture11070652The Buzz Changes within Time: Native <i>Apis mellifera mellifera</i> Honeybee Subspecies Less and Less Popular among Polish Beekeepers Since 1980Małgorzata Bieńkowska0Aleksandra Splitt1Paweł Węgrzynowicz2Robert Maciorowski3The National Institute of Horticultural Research, ul. Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3, 96-100 Skierniewice, PolandThe National Institute of Horticultural Research, ul. Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3, 96-100 Skierniewice, PolandThe National Institute of Horticultural Research, ul. Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3, 96-100 Skierniewice, PolandThe National Institute of Horticultural Research, ul. Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3, 96-100 Skierniewice, PolandSocio-cultural research might address anthropocentric reasons for honeybee (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) conservation. In some regions, particular honeybee subspecies are considered to be native; <i>A. mellifera mellifera</i> (“dark bee”) in the north-east and <i>A. mellifera carnica</i> in the Island Beskids in Poland. Additionally, <i>A. mellifera caucasia</i> (often incorrectly called <i>A. mellifera caucasica</i>) and Buckfast are reported across Poland. In order to verify the actual choice of beekeepers, a survey on honeybee subspecies kept in apiaries was conducted annually from 1980 to 2018. This is a way to verify if conservation management towards the dark bee influenced its maintenance at a sufficient level for their restoration. The analysis revealed that Polish beekeepers know what is “buzzing” in their hives, and the awareness of which subspecies/types of honeybee they maintain has grown through the years. Initially, they kept up to four different subspecies per apiary, but now most have only one (maximum of two). Currently, Polish apiaries approach a homogeneous share with the exclusive presence of <i>A. mellifera carnica</i> subspecies. The popularity of indigenous <i>A. mellifera mellifera</i> has declined over time and is low now. It seems that new solutions should be considered to increase the effectiveness of dark European bee conservation management efforts.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/7/652apicultureapiary managementbee tradecitizen sciencedark beepollinator decline |
| spellingShingle | Małgorzata Bieńkowska Aleksandra Splitt Paweł Węgrzynowicz Robert Maciorowski The Buzz Changes within Time: Native <i>Apis mellifera mellifera</i> Honeybee Subspecies Less and Less Popular among Polish Beekeepers Since 1980 Agriculture apiculture apiary management bee trade citizen science dark bee pollinator decline |
| title | The Buzz Changes within Time: Native <i>Apis mellifera mellifera</i> Honeybee Subspecies Less and Less Popular among Polish Beekeepers Since 1980 |
| title_full | The Buzz Changes within Time: Native <i>Apis mellifera mellifera</i> Honeybee Subspecies Less and Less Popular among Polish Beekeepers Since 1980 |
| title_fullStr | The Buzz Changes within Time: Native <i>Apis mellifera mellifera</i> Honeybee Subspecies Less and Less Popular among Polish Beekeepers Since 1980 |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Buzz Changes within Time: Native <i>Apis mellifera mellifera</i> Honeybee Subspecies Less and Less Popular among Polish Beekeepers Since 1980 |
| title_short | The Buzz Changes within Time: Native <i>Apis mellifera mellifera</i> Honeybee Subspecies Less and Less Popular among Polish Beekeepers Since 1980 |
| title_sort | buzz changes within time native i apis mellifera mellifera i honeybee subspecies less and less popular among polish beekeepers since 1980 |
| topic | apiculture apiary management bee trade citizen science dark bee pollinator decline |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/7/652 |
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