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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The goal of this study was to investigate the diversity of
feral honey bee races in pine forest landscapes of east
Texas, subsequent to immigration of Africanized honey
bees, Apis mellifera scutellata. The specific objectives were
(i) to assess the immigration of A. m. scutellata into east
Texas pine forest landscapes and (ii) to evaluate the
suitability of the pine forest landscape to feral honey
bees. This mesoscale landscape study was conducted on
the Sam Houston National Forest in east Texas. Swarm
traps and aerial pitfall traps were used to monitor feral
honey bees. Spatial databases were used to evaluate
suitability of the pine forest landscape for honey bees.
Scoring mitochondrial DNA type (mitotypes), we found
representatives of A. mellifera scutellata, eastern European,
western European, and A. mellifera lamarckii races in pine
forest landscapes of east Texas. The significant
conclusions that follow from this evaluation are (i)
honey bees are a ubiquitous component of the pine
forest landscape in east Texas, (ii) mitotype diversity
persists in the presence of significant immigration of A.
m. scutellata, and (iii) A. m. scutellata, is an added element
of the mitotype diversity in the landscape. The landscape
structure in 1256 ha units surrounding 6 swarms of
honey bees captured in swarm traps was examined. The
metrics used to characterize the kind, number, size,
shape, and configuration of elements forming the
landscape, defined a heterogeneous environment for
honey bees that included food and habitat resources
needed for survival, growth, and reproduction.
Description
Keywords
Honey bees Landscape ecology
Citation
Coulson, R.N.; Pinto, M. Alice; Tchakerian, M.D.; Baum, K.; Rubink, W.L.; Johnston, J.S. (2004). Feral honey bees in pine forest landscapes of East Texas. In The 19th Annual Symposium International Association for Landscape Ecology United States Regional Association. Las Vegas