Age structure is critical to the population dynamics and survival of honeybee colonies.

ABSTRACT: Age structure is an important feature of the division of labour within honeybee colonies, but its effects on colony dynamics have rarely been explored. We present a model of a honeybee colony that incorporates this key feature, and use this model to explore the effects of both winter and disease on the fate of the colony. The model offers a novel explanation for the frequently observed phenomenon of 'spring dwindle', which emerges as a natural consequence of the age-structured dynamics. Furthermore, the results indicate that a model taking age structure into account markedly affects the predicted timing and severity of disease within a bee colony. The timing of the onset of disease with respect to the changing seasons may also have a substantial impact on the fate of a honeybee colony. Fin

SUBMITTER: Betti MI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5180125 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature