Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LXII, Issue 1
Written by Valentina CEBOTARI, Ion BUZU, Olga POSTOLACHI
The purpose of this paper was to determine the correlation between the monthly average atmospheric air temperature values at different periods of the year and the evolution of the valuie morpho-productive characters of the bee families, thereby elucidating the impact of climate change on the vital activity of bee colonies Apis mellifera. The scientific researches were carried out at the experimental apiary of the Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, located in the central part of Moldavian Codri. Research results have demonstrated that there are positive correlations between the atmospheric air temperature in October of the last year and January of this year and the wintering resistance of the bees colonies (rxy = 0.469 and 0.768). High temperatures of atmospheric air in July, August and September have a negative impact on the wintering resistance of bee families in the next year (rxy = -0.479; -0.699 and -0.494). The prolificity of queens is positively influenced by January temperatures (rxy = 0.464 ± 0.076; tr = 6.11; P <0.001). Air temperature in February, April and June correlates negatively with the prolificity of queens, estimated in June (rxy = -0.594; -0.795 and -0.461). High temperatures in July and September negatively influence the prolificity of queens in the following year (rxy = -0.531 and -0.711). Colony strength, evaluated in June, is negatively influenced by air temperatures in April and June (rxy = -0.603; -0.691), also correlated with air temperature in September of the last year (rxy = - 0.60; tr = 2.71; P <0.01), as well as positive one with October of the same year (rxy = 0.517; tr = 2.00; P <0.05). The viability of the bee brood is positively influenced by the January and February air temperatures (rxy = 0.495 and 0.511), and - negative in the May (rxy = -0.548, tr = 2.22, P <0.05). Overall, the annual average air temperature positively influence the viability of the brood (rxy = 0.833; tr = 7.71; P <0.001). Honey production, appreciated at the end of June, tends to be positively influenced by the atmospheric air temperature in January (rxy = 0.488; tr = 1.81; P <0.1) and, negatively, by the temperature in June (rxy = -0.497; tr = 1.87; P <0.1). Atmospheric air temperatures in July and September have a negative impact on honey production in the next year (rxy = -0.548 and - 0.684; tr = 2.22 and 3.64; P <0.05 and <0.001); but in October has a positive impact on this production (rxy = 0.513; tr = 2.00; P <0.05).
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