RT Journal Article
T1 The Effect of Migratory Beekeeping on the Infestation Rate of Parasites in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Colonies and on Their Genetic Variability
A1 Jara, Laura
A1 Ruiz, Carlos
A1 Martín Hernández, Raquel
A1 Muñoz Gabaldón, Irene
A1 Higes, Mariano
A1 Serrano, José
A1 De la Rúa, Pilar
AB Migratory beekeeping is a widely extended practice aimed at increasing the yield of products and pollination services of honey bee colonies. However, it represents a stress factor, as it facilitates the dissemination of diseases and may compromise the genetic identity of the colonies involved. To analyze the extent of these effects, pathogens infestation rate and genetic composition were monitored in a field experiment comparing stationary and migratory colonies sharing the same environmental conditions but differing in management (stationary vs. migratory) and genetic background. We studied the pathogens infestation rate (Varroa destructor, Nosema spp., and Deformed Wing Virus (DWV)) at four different times: before migratory operation, two weeks later, at the end of the migratory period, and two weeks after the return of the migratory hives. An increased incidence of V. destructor and Nosema ceranae and a lower DWV viral load were found in migratory colonies. Temporary changes in genetic diversity were detected regardless of colony type, suggesting that stressors other than management affect the genetic diversity of the colonies. Our study demonstrates that migratory practices have variable effects on the health and genetic diversity of honey bee colonies, which should be taken into account for the development of sustainable beekeeping.
PB MDPI
SN 2076-2607
YR 2020
FD 2020-12-23
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/126248
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/126248
LA eng
NO Jara, L., Ruiz, C., Martín-Hernández, R., Muñoz, I., Higes, M., Serrano, J., & De la Rúa, P. (2021). The effect of migratory beekeeping on the infestation rate of parasites in honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies and on their genetic variability. Microorganisms, 9(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.3390/MICROORGANISMS9010022
NO This research was supported by National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA) and FEDER funds (grant numbers: RTA2013-00042-C10-05 and 06) and the Seneca Foundation (Science and Technology Agency of the Murcia Region, grant number 19908/GERM/2015). Irene Muñoz was supported by Saavedra Fajardo fellowship from the Seneca Foundation (20036/SF/16) and a MINECO Spanish postdoctoral grant “Juan de la Cierva-Incorporación” (JCI2018-036614-I).
NO Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (España)
NO European Commission
NO Fundación Séneca
NO Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 31 dic 2025