BEEHAVE: a systems model of honeybee colony dynamics and foraging to explore multifactorial causes of colony failure.

ABSTRACT: A notable increase in failure of managed European honeybee Apis mellifera L. colonies has been reported in various regions in recent years. Although the underlying causes remain unclear, it is likely that a combination of stressors act together, particularly varroa mites and other pathogens, forage availability and potentially pesticides. It is experimentally challenging to address causality at the colony scale when multiple factors interact. In silico experiments offer a fast and cost-effective way to begin to address these challenges and inform experiments. However, none of the published bee models combine colony dynamics with foraging patterns and varroa dynamics.We have developed a honeybee model, BEEHAVE, which integrates colony dynamics, population dynamics of the varro

SUBMITTER: Becher MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4283046 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature