Impact of landscape configuration and composition on pollinator communities across different European biogeographic regions

IntroductionHeterogeneity in composition and spatial configuration of landscape elements support diversity and abundance of flower-visiting insects, but this is likely dependent on taxonomic group, spatial scale, weather and climatic conditions, and is particularly impacted by agricultural intensification. Here, we analyzed the impacts of both aspects of landscape heterogeneity and the role of climatic and weather conditions on pollinating insect communities in two economically important mass-flowering crops across Europe. MethodsUsing a standardized approach, we collected data on the abundance of five insect groups (honey bees, bumble bees, other bees, hover flies and butterflies) in eight oilseed rape and eight apple orchard sites (in crops and adjacent crop margins), across eight European countries (128 sites in total) encompassing four biogeographic regions, and quantified habitat heterogeneity by calculating relevant landscape metrics for composition (proportion and diversity of land-use types) and configuration (the aggregation and isolation of land-use patches). ResultsWe found that flower-visiting insects responded to landscape and climate parameters in taxon- and crop-specific ways. For example, landscape diversity was positively correlated with honey bee and solitary bee abundance in oilseed rape fields, and hover fly abundance in apple orchards. In apple sites, the total abundance of all pollinators, and particularly bumble bees and solitary bees, decreased with an increasing proportion of orchards in the surrounding landscape. In oilseed rape sites, less-intensively managed habitats (i.e., woodland, grassland, meadows, and hedgerows) positively influenced all pollinators, particularly bumble bees and butterflies. Additionally, our data showed that daily and annual temperature, as well as annual precipitation and precipitation seasonality, affects the abundance of flower-visiting insects, although, again, these impacts appeared to be taxon- or crop-specific. DiscussionThus, in the context of global change, our findings emphasize the importance of understanding the role of taxon-specific responses to both changes in land use and climate, to ensure continued delivery of pollination services to pollinator-dependent crops

The Tree Biodiversity Network (BIOTREE-NET): prospects for biodiversity research and conservation in the Neotropics

Biodiversity research and conservation efforts in the tropics are hindered by the lack of knowledge of the assemblages found there, with many species undescribed or poorly known. Our initiative, the Tree Biodiversity Network (BIOTREE-NET), aims to address this problem by assembling georeferenced data from a wide range of sources, making these data easily accessible and easily queried, and promoting data sharing. The database (GIVD ID NA-00-002) currently comprises ca. 50,000 tree records of ca. 5,000 species (230 in the IUCN Red List) from \u3e2,000 forest plots in 11 countries. The focus is on trees because of their pivotal role in tropical forest ecosystems (which contain most of the world\u27s biodiversity) in terms of ecosystem function, carbon storage and effects on other species. BIOTREE-NET currently focuses on southern Mexico and Central America, but we aim to expand coverage to other parts of tropical America. The database is relational, comprising 12 linked data tables. We summarise its structure and contents. Key tables contain data on forest plots (including size, location and date(s) sampled), individual trees (including diameter, when available, and both recorded and standardised species name), species (including biological traits of each species) and the researchers who collected the data. Many types of queries are facilitated and species distribution modelling is enabled. Examining the data in BIOTREE-NET to date, we found an uneven distribution of data in space and across biomes, reflecting the general state of knowledge of the tropics. More than 90% of the data were collected since 1990 and plot size varies widely, but with most less than one hectare in size. A wide range of minimum sizes is used to define a \u27tree\u27. The database helps to identify gaps that need filling by further data collection and collation. The data can be publicly accessed through a web application at http://portal.biotreenet.com. Researchers are invited and encouraged to contribute data to BIOTREE-NET

Impact of landscape configuration and composition on pollinator communities across different European biogeographic regions

Introduction: Heterogeneity in composition and spatial configuration of landscape elements support diversity and abundance of flower-visiting insects, but this is likely dependent on taxonomic group, spatial scale, weather and climatic conditions, and is particularly impacted by agricultural intensification. Here, we analyzed the impacts of both aspects of landscape heterogeneity and the role of climatic and weather conditions on pollinating insect communities in two economically important mass-flowering crops across Europe. Methods: Using a standardized approach, we collected data on the abundance of five insect groups (honey bees, bumble bees, other bees, hover flies and butterflies) in eight oilseed rape and eight apple orchard sites (in crops and adjacent crop margins), across eight European countries (128 sites in total) encompassing four biogeographic regions, and quantified habitat heterogeneity by calculating relevant landscape metrics for composition (proportion and diversity of land-use types) and configuration (the aggregation and isolation of land-use patches). Results: We found that flower-visiting insects responded to landscape and climate parameters in taxon- and crop-specific ways. For example, landscape diversity was positively correlated with honey bee and solitary bee abundance in oilseed rape fields, and hover fly abundance in apple orchards. In apple sites, the total abundance of all pollinators, and particularly bumble bees and solitary bees, decreased with an increasing proportion of orchards in the surrounding landscape. In oilseed rape sites, less-intensively managed habitats (i.e., woodland, grassland, meadows, and hedgerows) positively influenced all pollinators, particularly bumble bees and butterflies. Additionally, our data showed that daily and annual temperature, as well as annual precipitation and precipitation seasonality, affects the abundance of flower-visiting insects, although, again, these impacts appeared to be taxon- or crop-specific. Discussion: Thus, in the context of global change, our findings emphasize the importance of understanding the role of taxon-specific responses to both changes in land use and climate, to ensure continued delivery of pollination services to pollinator-dependent crops

Monitoring bee health in European agroecosystems using wing morphology and fat bodies

Current global change substantially threatens pollinators, which directly impacts the pollination services underpinning the stability, structure and functioning of ecosystems. Amongst these threats, many synergistic drivers, such as habitat destruction and fragmentation, increasing use of agrochemicals, decreasing resource diversity, as well as climate change, are known to affect wild and managed bees. Therefore, reliable indicators for pollinator sensitivity to such threats are needed. Biological traits, such as phenotype (e.g. shape, size and asymmetry) and storage reserves (e.g. fat body size), are important pollinator traits linked to reproductive success, immunity, resilience and foraging efficiency and, therefore, could serve as valuable markers of bee health and pollination service potential. This data paper contains an extensive dataset of wing morphology and fat body content for the European honeybee (Apis mellifera) and the buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) sampled at 128 sites across eight European countries in landscape gradients dominated by two major bee-pollinated crops (apple and oilseed rape), before and after focal crop bloom and potential pesticide exposure. The dataset also includes environmental metrics of each sampling site, namely landscape structure and pesticide use. The data offer the opportunity to test whether variation in the phenotype and fat bodies of bees is structured by environmental factors and drivers of global change. Overall, the dataset provides valuable information to identify which environmental threats predominantly contribute to the modification of these traits

Distribution of infectious and parasitic agents among three sentinel bee species across European agricultural landscapes

Infectious and parasitic agents (IPAs) and their associated diseases are major environmental stressors that jeopardize bee health, both alone and in interaction with other stressors. Their impact on pollinator communities can be assessed by studying multiple sentinel bee species. Here, we analysed the field exposure of three sentinel managed bee species (Apis mellifera, Bombus terrestris and Osmia bicornis) to 11 IPAs (six RNA viruses, two bacteria, three microsporidia). The sentinel bees were deployed at 128 sites in eight European countries adjacent to either oilseed rape fields or apple orchards during crop bloom. Adult bees of each species were sampled before their placement and after crop bloom. The IPAs were detected and quantified using a harmonised, high-throughput and semi-automatized qPCR workflow. We describe differences among bee species in IPA profiles (richness, diversity, detection frequencies, loads and their change upon field exposure, and exposure risk), with no clear patterns related to the country or focal crop. Our results suggest that the most frequent IPAs in adult bees are more appropriate for assessing the bees' IPA exposure risk. We also report positive correlations of IPA loads supporting the potential IPA transmission among sentinels, suggesting careful consideration should be taken when introducing managed pollinators in ecologically sensitive environments

La Red Internacional de Inventarios Forestales (BIOTREE-NET) en Mesoamérica: avances, retos y perspectivas futuras

Conservation efforts in Neotropical regions are often hindered by lack of data, since for many species there is a vacuum of information, and many species have not even been described yet. The International Network of Forest Inventory Plots (BIOTREE-NET) gathers and facilitates access to tree data from forest inventory plots in Mesoamerica, while encouraging data exchange between researchers, managers and conservationists. The information is organised and standardised into a single database that includes spatially explicit data. This article describes the scope and objectives of the network, its progress, and the challenges and future perspectives. The database includes above 50000 tree records of over 5000 species from more than 2000 plots distributed from southern Mexico through to Panama. Information is heterogeneous, both in nature and shape, as well as in the geographical coverage of inventory plots. The database has a relational structure, with 12 inter-connected tables that include information about plots, species names, dbh, and functional attributes of trees. A new system that corrects typographical errors and achieves taxonomic and nomenclatural standardization was developed using The Plant List (http://theplantlist.org/) as reference. Species distribution models have been computed for around 1700 species using different methods, and they will be publicly accessible through the web site in the future (http://portal.biotreenet.com). Although BIOTREE-NET has contributed to the development of improved species distribution models, its main potential lies, in our opinion, in studies at the community level. Finally, we emphasise the need to expand the network and encourage researchers willing to share data and to join the network and contribute to the generation of further knowledge about forest biodiversity in Neotropical regions

Calidad nutricional del polen y efecto de la alimentación complementaria sobre poblaciones de abeja "Apis mellifera iberiensis"

El cambio climático está afectando todos los ecosistemas del Planeta. Algunas de las evidencias del cambio son las temperaturas elevadas, sequías frecuentes y prolongadas, lluvias irregulares, etc. Estos factores afectan a los seres vivos, como las plantas y los insectos polinizadores, de diversas formas. La abeja doméstica es uno de los insectos polinizadores de mayor importancia económica y ecológica que está siendo afectada de manera directa e indirecta por los factores causantes del cambio climático. Las abejas dependen del néctar y polen que producen las plantas, por tanto, cuando las plantas son afectadas por los factores climáticos, las abejas padecen estrés nutricional. Debido que las abejas dependen del polen que consumen es necesario analizar su contenido nutricional para identificar la deficiencia de nutrientes. La colza (Brassica napus) y el manzano (Malus domestica) son dos de los monocultivos que la abeja doméstica (Apis mellifera) poliniza, y de las cuales obtiene néctar y polen. Por otro lado, la variación de los nutrientes del polen puede influir en el comportamiento productivo y reproductivo de la colmena. Aunado a lo anterior, los microsporidios como la Nosema sp y parásitos como el ácaro Varroa sp contribuyen a disminuir el tiempo de vida de las abejas y a un desarrollo adecuado de las larvas. Por último, en la última década se ha evidenciado de que hay una relación estrecha y positiva entre los componentes del sistema inmune de los insectos y la existencia de una flora intestinal de microorganismos específica, la microbiota. Por todo lo expuesto, se planteó; 1) evaluar el contenido de nutrientes de los monocultivos B. napus y M. domestica ubicados en Albacete y Murcia, respectivamente, 2) evaluar el contenido de nutrientes de polen en el colmenar de la Universidad Murcia durante un ciclo apícola, 3) evaluar el efecto de diferentes dietas con diferentes niveles de proteína sobre parámetros fisiológicos de abejas recién nacidas y, 4) evaluar el efecto de diferentes dietas a las que se han añadido estirpes bacterianas para que actúen como probióticos en los colmenares ubicados en Murcia y Soria. Se observó que los cultivos B. napus y M. domestica producen polen deficiente en grasa y en proteína. De los aminoácidos analizados se observó que Trp y Met se hallan en cantidades inferiores a las requeridas por las abejas, en tanto que entre los minerales resultaron deficientes el Mn, el Cu y el Zn. Durante un ciclo anual, todos los parámetros evaluados se incrementaron durante la primavera, disminuyeron durante el verano y se incrementaron nuevamente durante el otoño. La cantidad de polen y el porcentaje de proteína influyen de manera positiva sobre el número de larvas operculadas. La temperatura ambiental influye en la cantidad de polen colectado, en tanto que la precipitación lo hace sobre el porcentaje de humedad. Por último, se encontró un incremento en el consumo de alimento conforme avanza la edad de las abejas y en el peso corporal. Los niveles de proteína no afectan el contenido de grasa corporal pero sí a la edad, lo que sugiere que las abejas pueden ajustar su nivel de grasa conforme avanza su edad. La edad del insecto guarda una estrecha relación con la actividad fenoloxidasa, en especial a los días 6 y 9 días de edad. Además, estos parámetros tienen relación con los niveles de proteína, en especial al suministrar las dietas con contenido de proteína del 9% y el 12%. El número de esporas de Nosema sp fue superior en las colmenas de Murcia, particularmente en las colmenas suplementadas con las dietas 2 y 4, ambas dietas bajo restricción de patente. Sin embargo, la infestación disminuyó con el tiempo.Climate change is affecting all ecosystems on the planet. Some evidence of this change is high temperatures, frequent and prolonged droughts, irregular rainfall, etc. In various ways, these factors affect species, such as plants and pollinating insects. The domestic bee is one of the most economically and ecologically critical pollinating insects that is being directly and indirectly affected by the factors that cause climate change. Bees depend on the nectar and pollen produced by plants. Therefore, when plants are affected by climatic factors, bees suffer nutritional stress. Since bees depend on the pollen they consume, it is necessary to analyze its nutritional content to identify nutrient deficiencies. Rapeseed (Brassica napus) and apple (Malus domestica) are two of the monocultures that the domestic bee (Apis mellifera) pollinates and from which they obtain nectar and pollen. Furthermore, the variation of pollen nutrients can influence the productive and reproductive behavior of the hive. Moreover, microsporidia such as Nosema sp and parasites such as the Varroa sp mite contribute to reducing the lifespan of bees and adequate development of larvae. Finally, in the last decade, it has been shown that there is a close and positive relationship between the components of the immune system of insects and the existence of a specific intestinal flora of microorganisms, the microbiota. Thus, the main objectives of this thesis were: 1) to evaluate the nutrient content of monocultures B. napus and M. domestica located in Albacete and Murcia (Spain), respectively; 2) to evaluate the nutrient content of pollen in the Murcia University (Spain), apiary during a beekeeping cycle; 3) to evaluate the effect of different diets with different levels of protein on physiological parameters of newborn bees, and 4) evaluate the effect of different diets to which bacterial strains have been added to act as probiotics in apiaries located in Murcia and Soria (Spain). Cultures B. napus and M. domestica were found to produce pollen deficient in fat and protein. Of the amino acids analyzed, it was observed that Trp and Met are found in amounts lower than those required by bees, while Mn, Cu, and Zn were the most deficient minerals. During an annual cycle, all the parameters evaluated increased during the spring, decreased during the summer, and increased again during the autumn. The amount of pollen and the percentage of protein positively influence the number of operculated larvae. The environmental temperature influences the amount of pollen collected, while the precipitation influences the percentage of humidity. Finally, food consumption increased as the age of the bees and body weight increased. Protein levels do not affect body fat content, but age suggests that bees may adjust their fat levels as they age. The insect's age is closely related to phenoloxidase activity, especially at six and nine days of age. In addition, these parameters are related to protein levels, especially when fed with diets with 9% and 12% protein content. The number of Nosema sp spores was higher in Murcia (Spain) hives supplemented with diets 2 and 4, both under patent restrictions. However, the infestation decreased with tim

KEBIJAKAN PENGENDALIAN RESIKO KESELAMATAN DAN KESEHATAN KERJA PADA TENAGA KERJA (Studi pada Pekerjaan Pengangkatan di Crane Barge Palong III PT. Tanjungpura Balikpapan)

The process of identifying risks and risks is part of policy and risk. Risk control is carried out for efforts to prevent occupational diseases and accidents. To learn about ways to handle risks to the crane barge. This research is a descriptive study, from the time process of this research is a direct research. This research is located at Palong III barge crane PT. Putra Tanjungpura Balikpapan. The method used by researchers in making measurements, information used by companies. In this study, primary data can be used at the same time and direct data that works on location and secondary data obtained from the company. Risk assessment is carried out using the JRA method (Job Risk Assessment and Risk Matrix. In the risk process, finding 12 types of risks, namely 5 risks with low risk levels, 2 risks with moderate levels, 4 risks with risk levels and 1 risk with risk level Things which must be done regularly to achieve different goals, and the results of risks that are effective and efficient. Keywords: Policy, Risk control policy, risk assessmen

Oscillation Attenuation in a Building-like Structure by Using a Flexible Vibration Absorber

This is a theoretical, numerical, and experimental study on the vibration attenuation capability of the dynamic response of a building-like structure using a dynamic vibration absorber in cantilever flexible beam configuration, taking into account gravitational effects associated with its mass. The dynamic model of the primary vibrating structure with the passive vibration control device is obtained using the Euler–Lagrange formulation considering the flexible vibration absorber as a generalized system of one degree of freedom. The application of the Hilbert transform to the frequency response function to determine the tuning conditions between this nonlinear flexible beam vibration absorber and the primary system is also proposed. In this fashion, Hilbert transform analysis is then carried out to show that nonlinearities present in the dynamic model do not significantly contribute to the performance of the implemented absorber. Therefore, it is valid to linearize the equations of motion to obtain the tuning condition in which the flexible vibration absorber can attenuate undesirable harmonic vibrations that are disturbing to the building-like flexible structure. Thus, the present study shows that the Hilbert transform can be applied to obtain tuning conditions for other configurations of dynamic vibration absorbers in nonlinear vibrating systems. Simulation and experimental results are included to demonstrate the efficient performance of the presented vibration absorption scheme