| Autor: |
M. I. Betti, L. M. Wahl, M. Zamir |
| Jazyk: |
angličtina |
| Rok vydání: |
2016 |
| Předmět: |
|
| Zdroj: |
Royal Society Open Science, Vol 3, Iss 11 (2016) |
| Druh dokumentu: |
article |
| ISSN: |
2054-5703 |
| DOI: |
10.1098/rsos.160444 |
| Popis: |
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. Finally, simulations predict that an infection may persist in a honeybee colony over several years, with effects that compound over time. Thus, the ultimate collapse of the colony may be the result of events several years past. |
| Databáze: |
Directory of Open Access Journals |
| Externí odkaz: |
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