| Title: | Modeling Honey Bee Populations |
| Author(s): | Torres DJ; Ricoy UM; Roybal S; |
| Address: | "Department of Mathematics and Physical Science, Northern New Mexico College, Espanola, NM, USA. Department of Biology, Northern New Mexico College, Espanola, NM, USA" |
| DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0130966 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1932-6203 (Electronic) 1932-6203 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Eusocial honey bee populations (Apis mellifera) employ an age stratification organization of egg, larvae, pupae, hive bees and foraging bees. Understanding the recent decline in honey bee colonies hinges on understanding the factors that impact each of these different age castes. We first perform an analysis of steady state bee populations given mortality rates within each bee caste and find that the honey bee colony is highly susceptible to hive and pupae mortality rates. Subsequently, we study transient bee population dynamics by building upon the modeling foundation established by Schmickl and Crailsheim and Khoury et al. Our transient model based on differential equations accounts for the effects of pheromones in slowing the maturation of hive bees to foraging bees, the increased mortality of larvae in the absence of sufficient hive bees, and the effects of food scarcity. We also conduct sensitivity studies and show the effects of parameter variations on the colony population" |
| Keywords: | "Animals *Bees Behavior, Animal *Models, Biological Pheromones Population Dynamics;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineTorres, David J Ricoy, Ulises M Roybal, Shanae eng Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 2015/07/07 PLoS One. 2015 Jul 6; 10(7):e0130966. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130966. eCollection 2015" |
