Abstract

Summary A notable increase in failure of managed European honeybee Apis mellifera L. colonies has been reported in various regions in recent years. Although the underlying causes remain unclear, it is likely that a combination of stressors act together, particularly varroa mites and other pathogens, forage availability and potentially pesticides. It is experimentally challenging to address causality at the colony scale when multiple factors interact. In silico experiments offer a fast and cost‐effective way to begin to address these challenges and inform experiments. However, none of the published bee models combine colony dynamics with foraging patterns and varroa dynamics.We have developed a honeybee model, BEEHAVE, which integrates colony dynamics, population dynamics of the varroa mite, epidemiology of varroa‐transmitted viruses and allows foragers in an agent‐based foraging model to collect food from a representation of a spatially explicit landscape.We describe the model, which is freely available online (www.beehave-model.net). Extensive sensitivity analyses and tests illustrate the model's robustness and realism. Simulation experiments with various combinations of stressors demonstrate, in simplified landscape settings, the model's potential: predicting colony dynamics and potential losses with and without varroa mites under different foraging conditions and under pesticide application. We also show how mitigation measures can be tested. Synthesis and applications. BEEHAVE offers a valuable tool for researchers to design and focus field experiments, for regulators to explore the relative importance of stressors to devise management and policy advice and for beekeepers to understand and predict varroa dynamics and effects of management interventions. We expect that scientists and stakeholders will find a variety of applications for BEEHAVE, stimulating further model development and the possible inclusion of other stressors of potential importance to honeybee colony dynamics.

Highlights

  • A notable increase in failure of managed European honeybee Apis mellifera L. colonies has been reported in2009; Potts et al 2010)

  • The underlying causes remain unclear, it is likely that a combination of stressors act together, varroa mites and other pathogens, forage availability and potentially pesticides

  • BEEHAVE offers a valuable tool for researchers to design and focus field experiments, for regulators to explore the relative importance of stressors to devise management and policy advice and for beekeepers to understand and predict varroa dynamics and effects of management interventions

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Summary

Introduction

A notable increase in failure of managed European honeybee Apis mellifera L. colonies has been reported in2009; Potts et al 2010). Honeybee research at the colony level can be expensive and time-consuming, often resulting in restricted sample sizes. This problem is exacerbated when the interactions between multiple factors affecting the colony are addressed, and as there are several feedback mechanisms that may dampen or exacerbate effects, the results can be difficult to interpret (Becher et al 2013). While empirical research is essential to create new knowledge, in silico experiments can help to provide understanding of the findings and highlight critical knowledge gaps, as they allow us to test and analyse the effects of a variety of factors and interactions between them in a fast and costeffective way (Grimm & Railsback 2005). An established and freely available model will provide a useful tool for beekeepers, landscape managers and policy makers to help in decision-making with respect to bee, pollinator and land management; for example exploring the benefits or costs of different varroa mite management strategies, or agri-environment schemes

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