10/6/2011. in Latin America? in Latin America? Nosema. In-Hive. Pesticides. Nutrition. Environmental. Pesticides. Why is bee health preserved

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1 1/6/211 Why is bee health preserved in Latin America? Rémy Vandame El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Mexico Alejandra Palacio INTA Universidad de Mar del Plata, Argentina Why is bee health preserved in Latin America? 1. Situation 2. Beekeeping practices 3. Land use 4. Toxicology 5. Small scale is beautiful? 6. Native bees - Biodiversity losses at world scale: an ethical problem, with social and economic consequences. 1. Situation - Problem of losses of pollinators, despite they contribution with 9.3% of the world crops value, and despite > 6% of cultivated species require pollination. - Bees as main pollinators; distinction between the well-known Apis mellifera and other bee species. Varroa Viruses In-Hive Nosema Environmental Nutrition 1

2 1/6/211 - Important colony losses since in the US and EU. General perception on a multifactorial origin: practices and anthropized environments. - What about Latin America? Until today, many local problems reported, but rarely formally analyzed. Above all, there seems to be no massive problems. -Triple possibility: - unselected (feral) bees - lesser land use intensity - lower exposure to pesticides 2. Beekeeping practices 3. Land use - General trend of low-scale beekeeping in LA, i.e. lower stress for bees. - Beekeeping with Africanized bees in the tropics; more defensive, but good resistance. - Selection of hygienic bees in temperate regions (ProApi). - But increasing risks due to introduction of queens. Africanized ====>>>> European - Land use has an effect on botanic diversity and resources available to bees. - Influences worker lifespan and defenses against pathogens. In average, higher land use intensity in EU than in US, and in US than in LA. In average, higher land use intensity in EU than in US, and in US than in LA. But intensive crops are gaining lands in Argentina, Brazil, even Mexico so? 2

3 1/6/ Toxicology Due to pesticides use, beekeepers are always amongst the most affected producers. Sub-lethal and synergistic effects badly known. Creativity of pesticides producers 5. Small scale is beautiful? Modern agriculture Possible reasons for preserved bee health but a fragile equilibrium Low intensive beekeeping and few pathogens Feral bees Trend to intensification (migration) Introduction of exotic and unfitted lines Anthropized landscapes Economy Good resources for the bees Lower use of pesticides Intensification of the land use Increase of pesticide use Urban areas Proteic food International trade 6. What about native bees??? MUTUAL In Chiapas, certainly more than 4 species In Mexico, more than 18 species In the world, more than 2 species Mutualisms and bees in tropical landscapes: risks and rescue for biodiversity and crops How are they??? 3

4 1/6/211 Coffee and trees Diversidad sombra Cancuc, Chiapas 16 sites Jacaltenango, Guatemala 12 sites Coffee and trees Diversidad sombra Cs: simple coffee crop Cc: complex coffee crop M: milpa (corn) A: acahual (secondary) P: grassland B: forest U: urban Abundance of the Trigona genus Trigona Trigona Abbundance of six genera of bees High radius influence 1 2 Trigonisca 1 2 Medium radius influence Augochlora 1 2 Cephalotrigo na 1 2 Caenaugochl Lasioglossu ora m Low radius influence Conclusions - Apis mellifera as an indicator of the health of wild bees and insects in general. - Latin America as a model and reference for the impact of low-scale agriculture and beekeeping (along a matrix of contrasts). - But practices are rapidly intensifying, increasing the risks for bee health. - Geographic approach of bee health is necessary. 4

5 1/6/211 Second World Conference on Organic Beekeeping San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico March 19-25, 212 El Colegio de la Frontera Sur Linea de Investigación "Abejas de Chiapas" San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico +52 (967) remy@ecosur.mx 5