The Conservation of Native Honey Bees Is Crucial. (September 2019)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- The Conservation of Native Honey Bees Is Crucial. (September 2019)
- Main Title:
- The Conservation of Native Honey Bees Is Crucial
- Authors:
- Requier, Fabrice
Garnery, Lionel
Kohl, Patrick L.
Njovu, Henry K.
Pirk, Christian W.W.
Crewe, Robin M.
Steffan-Dewenter, Ingolf - Abstract:
- Abstract : Recent studies have emphasized the role of the western honey bee, Apis mellifera, as a managed agricultural species worldwide, but also as a potential threat to endangered wild pollinators. This has resulted in the suggestion that honey bees should be regulated in natural areas to conserve wild pollinators. We argue that this perspective fails to appreciate the multifaceted nature of honey bees as native or introduced species with either managed or wild colonies. Wild populations of A. mellifera are currently imperiled, and natural areas are critical for the conservation of local subspecies and genotypes. We propose that a differentiation between managed and wild populations is required and encourage integrated conservation planning for all endangered wild bees, including A. mellifera . Highlights: The western honey bee, Apis mellifera, is globally the most prominent pollinator used for pollination services in crops and is often known only as a domesticated species managed by beekeepers. Recent studies suggest that the presence of large numbers of introduced managed colonies can threaten wild bee populations. Therefore, proposals to exclude A. mellifera colonies from protected areas have arisen. The diversity of honey bee subspecies in Europe, Africa, and western Asia as a threatened component of the native fauna is underappreciated. In Europe, wild honey bee populations are endangered, due to lack of nesting sites and hybridization between and the transfer ofAbstract : Recent studies have emphasized the role of the western honey bee, Apis mellifera, as a managed agricultural species worldwide, but also as a potential threat to endangered wild pollinators. This has resulted in the suggestion that honey bees should be regulated in natural areas to conserve wild pollinators. We argue that this perspective fails to appreciate the multifaceted nature of honey bees as native or introduced species with either managed or wild colonies. Wild populations of A. mellifera are currently imperiled, and natural areas are critical for the conservation of local subspecies and genotypes. We propose that a differentiation between managed and wild populations is required and encourage integrated conservation planning for all endangered wild bees, including A. mellifera . Highlights: The western honey bee, Apis mellifera, is globally the most prominent pollinator used for pollination services in crops and is often known only as a domesticated species managed by beekeepers. Recent studies suggest that the presence of large numbers of introduced managed colonies can threaten wild bee populations. Therefore, proposals to exclude A. mellifera colonies from protected areas have arisen. The diversity of honey bee subspecies in Europe, Africa, and western Asia as a threatened component of the native fauna is underappreciated. In Europe, wild honey bee populations are endangered, due to lack of nesting sites and hybridization between and the transfer of pathogens and parasites from managed to wild populations. Natural areas, especially protected areas, are critical for the conservation of the wild populations of the western honey bee in its native range. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Trends in ecology & evolution. Volume 34:Number 9(2019)
- Journal:
- Trends in ecology & evolution
- Issue:
- Volume 34:Number 9(2019)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 34, Issue 9 (2019)
- Year:
- 2019
- Volume:
- 34
- Issue:
- 9
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2019-0034-0009-0000
- Page Start:
- 789
- Page End:
- 798
- Publication Date:
- 2019-09
- Subjects:
- Apis mellifera -- beekeeping -- human-mediated hybridization -- pollination -- protected areas -- subspecies and genotypes
Ecology -- Periodicals
Evolution (Biology) -- Periodicals
576.8 - Journal URLs:
- http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01695347 ↗
http://www.elsevier.com/journals ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1016/j.tree.2019.04.008 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 0169-5347
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 9049.569000
British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 11380.xml