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العنوان
Studies on pollen types collected by honeybee in Dakhla Oasis, New Valley.
الناشر
Mahmoud Ali Hassan Nasr Allah,
المؤلف
Nasr Allah,Mahmoud Ali Hassan
هيئة الاعداد
باحث / Mahmoud Ali Hassan Nasr Allah
مشرف / Hosafy M. Eshbah
مشرف / Abd El-Salam A. Mohamed
مشرف / Adel R. Hassan
الموضوع
honeybee pollen pollen types honeybee New Valley.
تاريخ النشر
2009 .
عدد الصفحات
150p:
اللغة
الإنجليزية
الدرجة
ماجستير
التخصص
الزراعية والعلوم البيولوجية (المتنوعة)
تاريخ الإجازة
1/1/2008
مكان الإجازة
جامعة المنيا - كلية الزراعة - قسم وقاية النبات
الفهرس
Only 14 pages are availabe for public view

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Abstract

The present work was done to study the types of pollen collected by the honey bee colonies in Dakhla Oasis, New Valley. Carniolan bee (Apis mellifera carnica) colonies were used in six trials over a period extended from 2005 to 2007. The present work aimed to study the following points:
1-Efficacy of different kinds of pollen traps .
2-Effect of trapping income pollen on activity and productivity of the honey bee colonies.
3-Determination the quantity of pollen collected by honeybee colonies over the year in Dakhla Oasis and its classification.
4- Chemical analysis of different pollen collected by the honeybee colonies.
5-Effect of availability of certain fresh pollen flows on production and viability of the brood of the honeybee colonies.
6-Effect of supplying the bee colonies with certain types of stored pollen in dearth period.
The obtained results can be summarized as follows:
1-Efficacy of different kinds of pollen traps .
Efficacy of three pollen traps (single layer, double layer and zigzag layer) were tested and the results showed that the highest rate (18.33 gm./ colony) of pollen collection was recorded for the double layer trap, followed by the single layer trap (12.49 gm./ colony), and the zigzag trap (5.19 gm./ colony) with significant differences among them.
Concerning the numbers of passed workers through the holes of the tested pollen traps. Single layer traps passed the highest number (7.35 workers/ minute) which surpass significantly than the zigzag traps (4.5 workers/ minute) and double layer traps (4 workers/ minute).
With respecting the required time for passing the free workers through the pollen traps, the results indicated that passing through the zigzag traps consumed more time (46 second), followed by the double layer traps (42 second) and the single layer traps (31 second) with significant differences among them.
On the other hand, the obtained results revealed that the passing time for carrying pollen workers showed the same trend where passing through the holes of the zigzag traps required 69 second, followed by the double layer traps (67 second), while the single layer traps need only 53 second for passing the workers carrying pollen.
Also, determination the percentage of pollen loads dropped from the passed workers showed that the double layer traps dropped the highest significant percentage (68.07 %), followed by the single layer traps (50.8%), while the zigzag traps was the lowest ( 35.7%).
2-Effect of trapping income pollen on the activity and productivity of the honeybee colonies:
The three types of pollen traps (single layer, double layer and zigzag layer traps) were used to trap the income pollen of nine of the experimental colonies of Apis mellifera carnica. The used traps were fixed on the front of the hive of the experimental colonies for different periods (3, 6 and 10 days). Egg laying rate, area of brood, stored pollen and honey of the experimental colonies were recorded.
The obtained results showed that using the double layer traps for three days contributed in reducing the egg laying rate of the queens of the experimental colonies. It was in an average 27.73 %, followed by those colonies having the single layer traps (25.89%). While the colonies have the zigzag pollen traps recorded reduction of 24.40% without significant differences among them.
Concerning the reduction percentage of the brood areas, using the double layer pollen traps reduced the brood area by 48.86 %, while using the single layer traps contributed in reduction of this areas by 40.74% and zigzag traps by 27.24%. The differences among percentages of reduction of brood areas mentioned above were significant.
The same trend was noticed for the areas of the stored pollen where the obtained results revealed that using the double layer traps reduced the stored pollen areas by 68 % , followed by the single layer pollen traps (50%), while using the zigzag traps reduced the areas by 19%.
With regarding to reduction percentage of the stored honey areas of the experimental colonies having different traps, the results showed that using the double layer traps recorded the highest reduction of the honey areas (21.57%), followed by using the zigzag traps (12.08 %) and then the single layer traps (9.58%), with significant differences among them. The same trend was noticed with extension of pollen trapping for 6 and 10 days.
It was appeared from the results of the present work that the double layer traps have the highest negative effects on activity and production of honeybee colonies.
3-Determination the quantity of pollen collected by honeybee colonies over the year in Dakhla Oasis.
Three single layer pollen traps used to collected pollen from the colonies over the years 2006 and 2007 and yield of the collected pollen was classified in order to determine the representation percentage of different floral source.
The obtained results in the year of 2006 indicated that, the quantity of different pollen collected during February was the highest one (427.21 gm./ colony), followed by that quantity gathered in March (382.49 gm./ colony), while the amount of pollen collected during June was 42.1 gm./ colony and July was 69.29 gm./ colony .
On the other hand, classification of the collected pollen showed that, the representation percentage of Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrimum) pollen was the highest one 95.09 % , followed by the date palm (Phonix dactylifera) which was represented by 88.92%, while gum arabica (Acacia arabica) was 74.68%, maize (Zea mays) by 69.80%, capparis (Capparis aphylla) by 67.26% and Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus sp.) by 66.16%.
The same trend was recorded in 2007 year, where the highest amount of the collected pollen (624.26 gm./ colony) was recorded in February followed by that amount collected in September (217.58gm/colony), while the lowest one collected in April and January (40.34 and 29.31 gm./ colony, respectively).
Observations of representation percentage of different floral source in the year 2007, recorded the same trend found in 2006.
On the light of these results, it can be concluded that under Dakhla Oasis conditions, honeybee colonies collect pollen over the year with fluctuations between rich flow and dearth period. Pollen flow was increased in February, March, May, June, September and October,so the pollen traps can be used, to collect pollen and then resupplied it for honeybee colonies in dearth periods of, January, April and July in order to maintain the population and activity of the bee colonies.
4- Chemical analysis of different pollen types collected by the honey bee colonies.
The collected pollen were classified to 18 types according to its color and feature the under microscope and sample of each type was subjected to chemical analysis to determine its content of moisture, protein, carbohydrate, lipids, crude fiber and vitamin C. Results indicated that the date palm (Phonix dactylifera) pollen have the highest percentage of moisture (20%), the same percentage recorded by parsly (Petroselinum sativum) pollen and Sesban (Seasbania sp.) pollen. While orange (Citrus aurantium) pollen recorded the lowest percentage (16.02%) .
On the other hand, results showed that, orange, (Citrus aurantium) pollen recorded the high percentage of protein content (22.04%), followed by sedge (Cyprus sp.) pollen (22.02%), while plantain (Plantago major) pollen recorded the lowest percentage (16.48%).
Determination the crude fiber content of the tested pollen types showed that Rocket (Eruca sativa) pollen have the highest content (11.24%), While maize (Zea mays) pollen recorded the lowest percentage (5.00%).
Concerning the ash content of different pollen types, the results indicated that parsly (Petroslinum sativum) pollen have the highest percentage (2.40%) and chicory (Chicorium intybus) pollen have the lowest percentage (1.04 %).
With regard to lipids content, data showed that orange and sedge [(Citrus auranrium) and (Cyperus sp.)] pollen possessed the highest content (2.12 % & 2.10%), while Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) pollen recorded the lowest percentage (1.00%).
With relation to carbohydrate content results indicated that Capparis (Capparis aphyla) pollen have the highest level (55.81%), followed by broad bean (Vicia foba) pollen (54.55%). While Sesban (Seasbania sp.) pollen recorded the lowest one (50.38%).
On the other hand, results revealed that alfalfa (Medicago sativa) pollen contained the highest level of vitamin C (0.66%),While sunflower (Helianthus annus L.), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.) and broad bean (Vicia faba) contained the lowest level ( 0.039%) for each one.
The chemical analysis of different types of pollen may help the beekeeper to formulate a complementary diet for the honeybee colonies according to the components levels of each pollen type constitute of that diet.
5.5 Effect of availability of certain fresh pollen flows on production and viability of the brood of honeybee colonies:
At Dakhla Oasis there are three main pollen flowes, (date palm (Phoenix dacitylifora) from the end of February to the end of March, clover (Trifolium alxandrimum L.) from the first of May to mid June and gum arabic trees (Acacia arabica) from the first of August to mid September .
Effect of availability of fresh pollen of these sources on activity of the honeybee colonies was studied. Three groups of the honeybee colonies, three colonies each, located at one of three locations (El- Hendaw, Mout and El Rashda) which have the same source of the pollen type. In the same time there was another group of the experimental colonies at El- Kaser village where there is no any source of any of those types of pollen.
5.5.1- Effect of availability of fresh pollen of date palm on activity and productivity of the honeybee colonies
The results showed that the colonies located at Mout collected and stored 53, 40, 86 and 70 sq. inch/ colony on 22 February, 4 March, 16 March and 28 March, respectively, at the same time the colonies placed at El- Hendaw village collected 44, 27, 73 and 64 sq.inch/ colony at the same dates, respectively. While the colonies placed at El- Kaser village (control) collected the lowest quantity of pollen with significant differences among them.
With regard to honey area, results also showed that the colonies located at Mout stored the highest honey areas 53, 247, 333 and 308 sq. inch/ colony on 22 February, 4 March, 16 March and 28 March, respectively, followed by those colonies located at El- Hendaw village which stored 41, 218, 296 and 261 sq. inch/ colony at the same dates, respectively. At the same time the colonies placed at El- Kaser village stored the lowest honey areas without significant differences among them.
Concerning brood area, results indicated that the colonies placed at Mout recorded the highest areas 450, 430, 494 and 421 sq. inch/ colony on 22 February, 4 March, 16 March and 28 March, respectively. While the colonies placed at El- Kaser village, produced the lowest brood areas. Significant differences among brood areas produced by the experimental colonies at different regions just with two dates (4th and 16th of March).
On the other hand, the obtained results showed that the colonies located at Mout recorded the highest percentage for viability of larvae, followed by those colonies placed at El- Rashda and El- Hendaw villages, while the colonies located at El- Kaser village came at the last rank.
Concerning viability of pupae, results showed the same trend where the colonies located at El- Kaser recorded the lowest viability of brood in comparing with other different tested locations.
It is clear from the obtained data that Mout have a richest source of date palm pollen, followed by El- Hendaw and then El- Rashda, and this type of pollen have a positive effects on the activity and productivity of the bee colonies.
5.5.2- Effect of availability of the Egyptian clover pollen on activity and productivity of the honeybee colonies.
Results indicated that in 2006 year, the Egyptian clover pollen was available in May and June. The colonies located at El- Hendaw village collected and stored the highest areas of pollen. The means as follow: 83, 89 , 58 and 84 sq. inch/ colony on 17 May, 19 May, 1 June and 13 June, respectively, followed by these colonies placed at Mout which collected 70, 81, 52, 73 sq. inch/ colony on the same above mentioned dates, respectively, while the colonies placed at El- Kaser village collected the lowest quantity of pollen with significant differences among them.
On the other hand, results also revealed that the colonies located at El- Hendaw village stored the highest honey areas (291, 297, 142 and 321 sq. inch/ colony) however the quantity collected by the colonies placed at El- Kaser village came in the last rank.
With regard to the brood area results showed that the colonies placed at El- Hendaw village produced the highest brood areas, (453, 489, 221 and 459 on 17 May, 29 May, 1 June and 13 June, respectively), while the colonies placed at El- Kaser village reared the lowest areas of the brood.
The same trend was noticed with viability of larvae, and pupae.
5.6.3 Effect of availability of fresh pollen of gum Arabic trees on activity and productivity of the honeybee colonies.
Results showed that in 2006 year, the colonies located at El- Hendaw village collected and stored the highest areas of pollen (32, 17, 12 and 45 sq inch/ colony on 2 August, 15 August , 28 August and 11 September respectively), while those colonies placed at El- Kaser village collected and stored the lowest quantity of pollen.
Differences among the pollen quantities collected by the experimental colonies at different villages statistically were not significant.
Concerning the honey area, results indicated that the colonies located at El- Hendaw village stored the highest honey areas (211, 169, 234 and 175 sq. inch/ colony on 2 August, 15 August, 28 August and 11 September, respectively). At the same time the colonies located at El- Kaser village stored the lowest honey areas.
On the other hand, results showed that the colonies placed at Mout produced the highest brood areas, (249, 273, 209 and 179 on 2 August, 15 August, 28 August and 11 September, respectively), while those colonies located at El- Kaser produced the lowest brood areas with significant differences in 4 locations just of 28th August.
In 2007, the same trend was observed, with the viability of the brood, and the results revealed that the colonies at El- Hendaw village recorded the highest brood viability, but the brood viability of the colonies placed at El- Kaser village came in the last rank.
This data may support the knowledge of the beekeeper about the main sources of pollens at different villages of Dakhla Oasis and the positive effects of each type of pollens on activity of the honeybee colonies. It may help them to make a right decision for movement their colonies to the rich pollen location on a suitable date.
6- The feeding preference of the honeybee colonies to some of the freezed storage pollen.
Eight types of pollen collected by the honey bee colonies at Dakhla Oasis were stored under freezing conditions and resupplied to the experimental colonies in the dearth period of the next season. The tested pollen types were belonging to the following plant sources: Acacia arabica, Capparis aghylla, Eucalyptus ssp., Trifolium alexandrimum L., Cyprus sp., Phoenix dactylifera, Zea mays L. and Portulaaca oleracea. Each pollen type was supplied to three colonies in the feature of pollen cake (2 parts of pollen: 1 part of the honey) by the rate of 60 gm./ colony. One type of honey (clover honey) was used for mixing with different pollen cakes.
The results showed that, the Zea mays L. pollen attracted the highest number of worker (48 worker/ 5 minutes), while Trifolium alexandrimum pollen attracted the lowest number (23 workers / 5 minutes).
Concerning the consumption rate of the tested pollen cakes , results revealed that the zea mays pollen cake was consumed by the highest rates, (46.66, gm/ after 3 days and 51.11 gm after 6 days) .
On the other hand, the obtained results indicated that the colonies fed on Zea mays pollen cake increased its storage of pollen area by 51.1 %, while the colonies fed on Cyprus sp. Pollen cake increased its pollen store by 3.53 %, which considered the lowest percentage .
Also, determination percentage of increasing of daily rate of egg laying by the queens of the colonies supplied with the tested pollen cakes showed that the queens of the colonies fed on Eucalyptus sp. pollen cake recorded the highest significant percentage of increasing of daily rate of egg laying (385.7%), comparing to 242.8, 225.0 and 76.9% for the queens of the colonies fed on maize , date palm and the Egyptian clover pollen cake , respectively.
On the other hand, the obtained results showed that the colonies fed on Capparis aphylla pollen cake recorded the highest percentage of increasing the sealed brood area, (123.5%).
Concerning increasing of sealed honey area results showed that the colonies fed on Trifolium alexandrimum pollen recorded the highest percentage of increase (98.5%), while those colonies fed on Acacia arabica pollen cake recorded the lowest percentage (7.9 %).
With regard to the foraging activity of the fed colonies, the results indicated that the colonies fed on Portulaca oleracea recorded the highest rate of the foraging activity.
Conclusion:
On the light of the obtained data of the present study, it could be concluded that beekeepers of the Dakhla Oasis, New Valley can get many benefits, through understanding the following points:-
1- The Double layer pollen traps is the highest efficacy traps among the tested traps, but it has a negative effect on the product of the colonies with extension its use to 3 days or more.
2- The single layer pollen traps is considered the suitable traps for using on bee hive, it can trap a considerable amount of pollen, bees can easily pass through it, and it has the lowest negative effect on the production of the colonies.
3- Although the beekeepers can get great benefit by using the pollen trap on the hive entrance during the rich periods of the pollen flow for store and resupplied on dearth period, but extension of using period of these traps showed a negative effects on productivity and activity of the honeybee colonies.
4- Months of February, March, May, June, September and October were the richest periods of pollen flow in Dakhla Oasis, so the beekeepers can use the pollen traps for collecting the pollens and stored it for resupplying to the colonies on the dearth periods of months of January, April and July.
5- Honeybee colonies at Dakhla Oasis collect different types of pollen having various components, of moisture, protein, carbohydrate, lipids, fiber, ash and vitamin C, where the highest levels of those components were found with pollen of date palm, orange, capparis, orange, rocket, parsly and alfalfa, respectively, which should be considered the constitution of the bee’s diets.
6- Moving the bee colonies to the locations that having rich source of pollen such as date palm on February and March, the Egyptian clover on May and June, and gum Arabic trees on August and September have a positive effect on activity and productivity of the bee colonies.
7- Collection the pollen during rich season of the pollen flow, then stored under freezing conditions and resupplying it to the colonies on the dearth period as pollen cakes, have a general positive effect on the activities of the bee colonies, specially pollen cake of maize or Eucalyptus have clear attractiveness of the bees.
The present study may send a clear message saying that a good knowledge about pollen trapping, its flow periods, its components, its different types, and its effect on activity of the honeybee colonies is the ideal manner for the scientific and practitioners to dealing with the honeybee colonies existed at a certain location on a particular time to get a lot of benefits for these colonies.