Pollen 2015 dataset.

In this study, we intensively measured the longitudinal productivity and survival of 362 commercially managed honey bee colonies in Canada, over a two-year period. A full factorial experimental design was used, whereby two treatments were repeated across apiaries situated in three distinct geographic regions: Northern Alberta, Southern Alberta and Prince Edward Island, each having unique bee management strategies. In the protein supplemented treatment, colonies were continuously provided a commercial protein supplement containing 25% w/w pollen, in addition to any feed normally provided by beekeepers in that region. In the fumagillin treatment, colonies were treated with the label dose of Fumagilin-B® each year during the fall. Neither treatment provided consistent benefits across all sites and dates. Fumagillin was associated with a large increase in honey production only at the Northern Alberta site, while protein supplementation produced an early season increase in brood production only at the Southern Alberta site. The protein supplement provided no long-lasting benefit at any site and was also associated with an increased risk of death and decreased colony size later in the study. Differences in colony survival and productivity among regions, and among colonies within beekeeping operations, were far larger than the effects of either treatment, suggesting that returns from extra feed supplements and fumagillin were highly contextually dependent. We conclude that use of fumagillin is safe and sometimes beneficial, but that beekeepers should only consider excess protein supplementation when natural forage is limiting.

本研究针对加拿大境内362群商业化饲养的蜜蜂蜂群开展了为期两年的纵向监测，精细化测定其生产性能与存活情况。本研究采用全因子实验设计，在阿尔伯塔省北部、阿尔伯塔省南部与爱德华王子岛三个不同地理区域的养蜂场中重复设置两种处理组，各区域均拥有专属的蜜蜂饲养管理策略。在蛋白补充处理组中，蜂群除获取该区域养蜂人常规提供的饲料外，还持续饲喂含有25% w/w花粉的商业化蛋白补充剂；在烟曲霉素处理组中，蜂群于每年秋季按照标签推荐剂量饲喂Fumagilin-B®药剂。两种处理均未在所有试验地点与时间点表现出稳定的增益效果：仅在阿尔伯塔省北部的试验点，烟曲霉素处理可显著提升蜂蜜产量，而仅在阿尔伯塔省南部的试验点，蛋白补充饲喂可在养殖季早期提升蜂群育虫量。蛋白补充饲喂未在任何试验点带来持久的增益，且在试验后期还会提升蜂群死亡风险、降低蜂群群势。不同区域间以及同一养蜂场内部不同蜂群的存活情况与生产性能差异，远大于两种处理带来的影响，这表明额外饲喂蛋白补充剂与烟曲霉素的收益高度依赖于具体环境条件。本研究得出结论：烟曲霉素的使用安全且有时可带来收益，但养蜂人仅应在天然蜜粉源不足时，考虑额外饲喂蛋白补充剂。