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Boutique des Sciences > Projects > 2014-2015


Pre-winter diet of domestic bees: a comparative assessment of two feeding methods

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Confronted with diverse threats to bee colonies (winter deaths, collapsing colonies, parasites, pesticides, etc.), the beekeeping sector has had to rapidly adapt to these challenges and implement “survival” strategies. In this manner, beekeepers have had to adapt their feeding practices. Far from the debate embroiling politicians, scientists and agri-food lobbyists regarding pesticides, beekeepers (both professionals and non-professionals) are simply attempting to keep their bee populations alive. This study measures the impact of two different bee-feeding methods, according to criteria determining the health of the bees and their hive, such as the number of bees and the effectiveness of their cellular respiration.

The results obtained from studying crates of 80 bees demonstrate the influence of beer yeast (Sacharromyces cerevisiae) on the availability of proteins within bee organisms: up to three times higher than within bees fed only sugar. Therefore, S. cervisiae would seem to be an effective replacement for pollen during food shortages or to help bees overwinter. However, these results remain to be confirmed and complemented by longer-duration studies on bee hives, especially those weakened by pesticides and parasites.


CSO

Groupement de Défense Sanitaire du Rhône
Représentant : Jean Riondet, président

student

Céline FRANK – Master en Ecologie Humaine (diplômée), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (projet dans le cadre d’un partenariat Eurodyssée)

researcher

Scientific supervisor:
Yves LE CONTE – UR 0406 Abeilles et environnement, INRA Avignon
Yann VOITURON et Loïc TEULIER  – Equipe Ecophysiologie, Comportement, Conservation, Laboratoire LEHNA (UMR 5023), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1