lunes, 10 de diciembre de 2018

Fleites-Ayil F.A., Quezada-Euán J.J.G., Medina-Medina L.A. (2018) Onset of foraging and lifespan of Africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera ) infected with different levels of Nosema ceranae spores in Neotropical Mexico. Apidologie 49:781–788. 

 Abstract Nosema ceranae is a microsporidium pathogen widely spread around the world. Negative effects on foraging behavior and longevity of European honey bee (EHB) colonies have been associated with this pathogen as well as possible population losses, but its effects have not been studied in tropical adapted honey bees. We studied the interaction between this pathogen and Africanized honey bees (AHB) in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico where N. ceranae has only been detected since 2008. Non-infected and artificially infected workers with two different spore concentrations were introduced in observation hives to evaluate the onset and duration of foraging and longevity.
The results showed precocious foraging, a reduction of the duration of foraging and a decrease in the longevity of infected bees compared with non-infected ones. However, the results indicate that although negative effects can be caused by N. ceranae in AHB, these were of a moderate magnitude compared with similar reports on EHB in temperate areas. Further research is necessary to  evaluate the long-term effect of N. ceranae on AHBs in relation to colony dynamics to better understand the absence of significant colony losses associated with this pathogen in tropical and subtropical Mexico.

Link Apidologie

viernes, 12 de octubre de 2018

Valor cultural de las abejas sin aguijón en América Tropical

Quezada-Euán JJG; Nates-Parra G; Maués MM; Imperatriz-Fonseca VL; Roubik DW (2018) The economic and cultural values of stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) among ethnic groups of tropical America. Sociobiology 65: 534-557.

 Abstract- Stingless honey bees — commonly known as stingless bees — have long provided food and materials to the inhabitants of tropical America. We conducted a literature search to codify available information, including non-peer reviewed ‘grey literature’, on the purported value of stingless bees to indigenous people. Among > 400 species of Neotropical stingless bees several are widely used in beekeeping. Varied cultural and economic values are associated with their use, and in some cases husbandry, as a consequence of ongoing contact between people and these social insects. Adapting new species to husbandry is being attempted in many countries. The bees remain culturally important, and beliefs associated with them are significant for different groups, beyond utilization as commodities. We find values in food, craft, religion and medicine, with cultural values ranging from utilitarian to mythological. Values transmitted across generations allow cohesion and communal identity of native organisms associated with any indigenous society. Such cultural values seem in danger of extinction, primarily due to external factors. We provide examples of successful regional strategies in averting cultural and economic loss in natural human heritage, in this case bees that provide honey and other benefits. Preserving stingless bees and the cultural heritage around them provides a good example of sustainable use of native species in human communities. Bees are important agents for conservation of the environment.

 

Expresión de genes en Euglossa de Yucatán
 Boff S, Friedel A, Miertsch A, Quezada-Euàn JJG, Paxton RJ, Lattorff HMG (2018) A scientifc note on validation of housekeeping genes for the primitively eusocial bee Euglossa viridissima Friese (Apidae: Euglossini). Sociobiology 65: 766-769.
Abstract- Studies on the expression of genes in different contexts are essential to our understanding of the functioning of organisms and their adaptations to the environment. Gene expression studies require steps of normalization, which are done using the stable expression pattern of reference genes. For many different eusocial bees reference genes have been discovered, but not for the primitively eusocial Euglossini bees. We used available genomic resources of Euglossini species and the gene information of Apis mellifera Linnaeus to develop a set of reference genes for the primitive eusocial bee Euglossa viridissima Friese. We tested nine genes, in distinct developmental stages, using three different algorithms, to infer stability of gene expression. The TATA-binding protein (TBP) and 14-3-3 epsilon were the most stable genes across all developmental stages. The strongest deviation in gene expression pattern occurred in pupae, which require a different set of genes for normalizing gene expression.

miércoles, 19 de septiembre de 2018

miércoles, 12 de septiembre de 2018

Abejas sin aguijón de México

Abejas sin aguijón de México: Biología, manejo y conservación de una herencia ancestral (2018)- Ediciones de la Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán 420 págs.

Solicitudes accediendo a las páginas WEB de la Librería UADY (link)
Gandhi (link), Librería de la U (link), tanto en México como en Colombia; Librería El Ermitaño, en México; Boutique del libro en Argentina; Casa del Libro en España, Buscalibre, entre otras.

viernes, 3 de agosto de 2018