Location
Parker-Reed, SSWAC
Start Date
1-5-2014 9:00 AM
End Date
1-5-2014 10:00 AM
Project Type
Poster
Description
Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a widespread condition throughout honeybee populations across the globe, resulting in either partial or total failure of Apis mellifera hives including death and/or hive abandonment. Many factors, either independently or concurrently, contribute to CCD, making it difficult to establish a singular cause of collapse. Research was performed to evaluate several prevalent causes and establish a singular most pervasive one based on four major criteria. These included: potential to expand, frequency of threat, geographic range, effectiveness of treatment. This study tested the hypothesis that a singular predominant cause could be identified based on the results of the conducted evaluation. Six case studies were evaluated, representing the six major contributors to CCD, including: the Varroa mite, neoniconitoids, Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV), parasites, imidacloprid, and insecticide boosters. Because of the synergistic effects of these contributors, and the high rates of mortality for unprotected hives, a management system preventing CCD must be very situation-specific and as minimalistic as possible. The most aggressive contributors to CCD are the Varroa mite and Parasites (specifically Nosema apis and Apocephalus borealis), and prevention must be focused on these, likely through physiological impairment of the mite and development of anti-parasite treatments.
Faculty Sponsor
Russ Cole
Sponsoring Department
Colby College. Environmental Studies Program
CLAS Field of Study
Interdisciplinary Studies
Event Website
http://www.colby.edu/clas
ID
438
Included in
Colony Collapse Disorder: An Assessment of Causes and Their Pervasiveness
Parker-Reed, SSWAC
Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a widespread condition throughout honeybee populations across the globe, resulting in either partial or total failure of Apis mellifera hives including death and/or hive abandonment. Many factors, either independently or concurrently, contribute to CCD, making it difficult to establish a singular cause of collapse. Research was performed to evaluate several prevalent causes and establish a singular most pervasive one based on four major criteria. These included: potential to expand, frequency of threat, geographic range, effectiveness of treatment. This study tested the hypothesis that a singular predominant cause could be identified based on the results of the conducted evaluation. Six case studies were evaluated, representing the six major contributors to CCD, including: the Varroa mite, neoniconitoids, Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV), parasites, imidacloprid, and insecticide boosters. Because of the synergistic effects of these contributors, and the high rates of mortality for unprotected hives, a management system preventing CCD must be very situation-specific and as minimalistic as possible. The most aggressive contributors to CCD are the Varroa mite and Parasites (specifically Nosema apis and Apocephalus borealis), and prevention must be focused on these, likely through physiological impairment of the mite and development of anti-parasite treatments.
https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/clas/2014/program/24