SW Nigeria experience of Impacts of Agricultural Intensification and Climate Change on Apis mellifera adansonii Colony Establishment and Health
Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: Declines of wild bees together with unsustainably high losses of managed colonies and worsening bee health have become global issues.Southwest Nigeria is a tropical rainforest biome.It is one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems, with the changing agricultural development and climate overwhelmingly impacting it.The impact is also significant on beekeeping vis: colony establishment, health and productivity of the native bees the West African honeybees, Apis mellifera adansonii Latreille (Hymenoptera: Apidae).This bee was once described as strongly adaptive to the tropical rainforest, productive, hygienic and immuned to pathogenic infections.This study was carried out between December, 2015 to December, 2018 to determine the stress factors associated with colony establishment, health and productivity of the bee colonies.Four states were purposively selected in the Southwest Nigeria.Some beekeepers were selected, sampling and colony observations were made in selected apiaries and laboratory investigations were conducted.Results indicated decline in colony numbers and honey production from 2016 to 2018.Out of 96 inspected colonies, 16 (16.67%)colonies have become weakened or lost due to bee pests and diseases this is greater than losses recorded due to other factors.Similarly, infestation with small hive beetles (SHB) across the region is 82(85.43± 0.01%) greater than 67(69.93± 2.08) (Mean ± SD) recorded for Galleria mellonella infestation.SHB infestation were significantly different across the states (P = 0.005, p < 0.05).The mean levels of Gluthathion-S-Transferase (GST) detoxifier chemical signal in the tissues of bees tested in the colonies for the three years were higher than the normal value for bees.The climate change, and the adaptation policy and development such as agricultural intensification programme adopted is a relevant and sustainable mitigation tool but with a pervasive influence on beekeeping, honeybee health, population and productivity.
Source: Mellifera
Authors: Akinwande Kayode, Adeuya Oluwatosin
Language: English
Subfield: Insect Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W3124032280