1. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010 The Importance of Apiculture Albert J. Robertson Meadow Ridge Enterprises

2. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010 Outline Definition of apiculture Definition of apiculture Importance of honey bees and apiculture practices Importance of honey bees and apiculture practices Honey bee health issues Honey bee health issues The Saskatraz project The Saskatraz project

3. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010 Apiculture Apiculture is the management and study of domesticated honey bees (Apis Mellifera). Apiculture is the management and study of domesticated honey bees (Apis Mellifera). A critically important profession for secure and sustain the world’s food supply. A critically important profession for secure and sustain the world’s food supply.

4. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010 Responsible for 1/3 of the world’s food supply by pollination of more than 90-100 species of flowering plants (Greenleaf and Kremer, 2006, PNAS, 103: 13890) Responsible for 1/3 of the world’s food supply by pollination of more than 90-100 species of flowering plants (Greenleaf and Kremer, 2006, PNAS, 103: 13890) Worldwide economic value to food production of 50-100 billion USD annually with little or no “carbon footprint” (Dr. Phippes, Apitrack website) Worldwide economic value to food production of 50-100 billion USD annually with little or no “carbon footprint” (Dr. Phippes, Apitrack website) Indicators of the health of their surrounding ecosystem. Essential for the preservation and sustainability of wild species of flowering plants. Indicators of the health of their surrounding ecosystem. Essential for the preservation and sustainability of wild species of flowering plants. Used for prospecting and detecting land mines. Used for prospecting and detecting land mines. Importance of Honey bees and Apicultural Practices

5. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010 Involved with collection of valuable hive products. Involved with collection of valuable hive products. Honey Honey most “green” sweetener; more evidence of health benefits accumulating (Dr. Ron Fessenden, www.foodnavigator- usa.com) diabetes, weight loss, cognitive function, wound healing, chemotherapy induced neutropenia, cough suppression, antioxidant source. most “green” sweetener; more evidence of health benefits accumulating (Dr. Ron Fessenden, www.foodnavigator- usa.com) diabetes, weight loss, cognitive function, wound healing, chemotherapy induced neutropenia, cough suppression, antioxidant source.www.foodnavigator- usa.comwww.foodnavigator- usa.com Wax Wax Long chain aliphatic alcohol (30-32 C) Long chain aliphatic alcohol (30-32 C) Cloned gene involved in bee wax synthesis from SAT-28. Prapanan Teerawanichpan, Albert J. Robertson, Xiao Qui, 2010, Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 40; 641- 649. Cloned gene involved in bee wax synthesis from SAT-28. Prapanan Teerawanichpan, Albert J. Robertson, Xiao Qui, 2010, Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 40; 641- 649. Pollen, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom (apitherapy) Pollen, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom (apitherapy) Apicultural Practices

6. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010 In the media since 2007, Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Increased and continued decline in honey bee populations throughout the world is of serious concern. In the media since 2007, Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Increased and continued decline in honey bee populations throughout the world is of serious concern. Possible Causes: Possible Causes: Parasitic mites (Varroa Destructor) Parasitic mites (Varroa Destructor) Apis cerana  Apis mellifera Apis cerana  Apis mellifera Pathogens (viruses and microsporidia) associated with the mites Pathogens (viruses and microsporidia) associated with the mites Synthetic chemical miticide treatments Synthetic chemical miticide treatments Residues, mite resistance, decreased natural immunity and suppression of the development of natural resistance to mites Residues, mite resistance, decreased natural immunity and suppression of the development of natural resistance to mites Lack of genetic diversity in the managed bee population. Lack of genetic diversity in the managed bee population. Compounded by poor apicultural practices and agricultural pesticide uses (nicotinoids) Compounded by poor apicultural practices and agricultural pesticide uses (nicotinoids) Honey Bee Health Issues

7. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010 Varroa Mites in Pupae

8. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010 Scanning Electron Micrographs of Varroa Mite

9. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010 Established in 2004 in collaboration with Saskatchewan and Manitoba queen breeders. Established in 2004 in collaboration with Saskatchewan and Manitoba queen breeders. Involved assembling a large diverse gene pool at an isolated apiary called Saskatraz. Involved assembling a large diverse gene pool at an isolated apiary called Saskatraz. Aimed at using natural selection (no synthetic chemical miticides) to select for honey bee genotypes with tolerance to parasitic mites. Aimed at using natural selection (no synthetic chemical miticides) to select for honey bee genotypes with tolerance to parasitic mites. The Saskatraz Project SBA Honey Bee Breeding Program

10. The Saskatraz Project Objective: To develop productive, gentle honeybees with tolerance to mites and brood diseases By: Albert J. Robertson SBA Honeybee Breeding Program Summer 2004-05

11. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010

12. Letters A to G represent isolated apiaries and the year of establishment at Meadow Ridge. Solid arrows indicate genetically diverse gene (GD) flow into Saskatraz, dashed arrows gene flow out of Saskatraz. (ii) denotes instrumental insemination. RC denotes recurrent selection. 1 Denotes no chemical miticides. Saskatraz Breeding Program Logistics certified Saskatraz “Natural Selection 1 and Evaluation” (2004-09) A Meadow Ridge (MR) Closed Breeding Population (1992-2003) B Five Isolated Russian Apiaries Blue 40, Green, Purple 30 Yellow (2001-05) at MR E Colonies selected (127) by SK beekeepers (34), MR (83) Over 6 years (representing selections from > 50,000 colonies) (2004-2009) G Saskatraz satellite yards at MR 2006-09 (reselected elite breeding lines for closed population mating and stock maintenance) F Commercial Queen Breeders and Beekeepers (2005-2009) (4200 queen cells, 67 breeder queens distributed between 2006-09) C Russian/German hybrids (ii) UM/German hybrids (ii) NWC crosses (open mated and ii) (2006) Constructed at MR D Canadian hygienic Lines (TSQ) Crossed with Russian and UM (2005) Constructed at MR RC certified RC GD

13. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010 Saskatraz natural selection yard site fall 2006 – fenced. Selection for this Saskatraz yard site is a death sentence.

14. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010 Primary Selection Criteria: 1.Honey Production 2.Wintering Ability 3.Mite Resistance and Suppression 4.Resistance to Brood Diseases (chalk brood, foul brood and virus susceptibility) Breeding methods used to select and enrich for important traits (natural selection, back crossing, recurrent selection and progeny analyses).

15. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010

18. September 2006 These bees look good, but they are dying.

19. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010 Colony (2004) Virus May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 Aug. 2005 Sept. 2005 Oct. 2005 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 Aug. 2006 Sept. 2006 Oct. 2006 SAT 01 DWV IAPV KBV −−−−−− −−−−−− +−−+−− +−−+−− +−−+−− −−−−−− ++−++− +−−+−− ++++++ −++−++ ++++++ Dead SAT 24 DWV IAPV KBV +−−+−− −−−− +−−+−− +−−+−− +−−+−− +−−+−− −−−−−− −−−−−− ++−++− Dead SAT 28 DWV IAPV KBV +−−+−− −−−−−− +−−+−− −−−−−− +−−+−− ++−++− +−−+−− −−−−−− ++++++ −++−++ ++++++ SAT 30 DWV IAPV KBV −−−−−− +−−+−− +−−+−− +−−+−− +−−+−− −−−−−− −−−−−− −+−−+− −−−−−− ++++++ −++−++ −++−++ SAT 34 DWV IAPV KBV ++−++− +−−+−− ++−++− −−−−−− −−−−−− ++++++ −−−−−− −++−++ ++++++ −++−++ Saskatraz Apiary %T %V 0.33 − 0.64 0.06 1.5 1.6 0.5 1 0.3 3.3 0.72 3.9 0.9 15 0.75 32 Pandemic Varroa (ND 2005-2006) Were Sampled From All Saskatraz Colonies To Monitor Virus Infection Status of the Varroa Population and Host Colony. − − − 3 1 −−−− − − 3 1 7 2 −− − 1 9 − 2 − − 34 − − −− − − −− − 1.2 71931 − 1.3 − 17333 −−− 1246 − − 0.9 − 3 1026 95 − 0.75 − 5 1126

20. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010 Progeny Analyses of Selected Breeders and Non-Selected Colonies Grooming Assays Hygienic Behaviour (VSH phenotypes) Morphometric Analyses Molecular Marker Analyses Selecting for variability in virus susceptibility

21. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010 Grooming Assay

22. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010

23. Varroa Mite Hygienic Behaviour Analyses

24. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010 German (4) Unknown Canadian Russian New Zealand A three dimensional plot showing the grouping of 5 different honeybee populations using 20 informative microsatellite markers.

25. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010 Selecting for Variability in Virus Susceptibility of Saskatraz Breeding Lines

26. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010 Percent of brood cells infested with varroa at Saskatraz on Sept. 16, 2008. (Red bars indicate colonies showing virus infections) Values plotted are mean, error bars are SE.

27. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010 Screening of Pre-Emergent Pupae From Varroa Tolerant and Sensitive Saskatraz Breeding Lines for IAPV using RT-PCR

28. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010 Summary Natural Selection coupled with effective breeding procedures show promise in improving the productivity, health and sustainability of the domesticated honey bee. Natural Selection coupled with effective breeding procedures show promise in improving the productivity, health and sustainability of the domesticated honey bee. Positive selection pressure without the use of synthetic chemical miticides, should allow natural genetic processes to improve tolerance to mites and other pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi). Positive selection pressure without the use of synthetic chemical miticides, should allow natural genetic processes to improve tolerance to mites and other pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi). Apiculture practices should focus more on genetics, breeding and biotechnology to help obtain sustainability of honey bee populations. Apiculture practices should focus more on genetics, breeding and biotechnology to help obtain sustainability of honey bee populations.

29. The Importance of Apiculture, ABIC 2010 Acknowledgements Saskatchewan Agriculture (ADF), Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan (MB, AB, BC and Yukon), Meadow Ridge Ent. Ltd., SBA and CBRF GenServe Labs (Dr. G. Brown, Bruce Mann, Dr. Yves Plante, Dale Kelly, and Dr. Steven Creighton, SRC) VIDO (Dr. Philip Griebel and Wayne Connor) University of Saskatchewan Food and Bioproducts (Dr. Xiao Qiu and San Jei) Mohommad Mostejeran (Research associate 2008-present) Dr. Filipe Brizuela (Research associate summer 2008-09) Saskatchewan Bee Keeper Colony Donators & Contributors Dr. Abdullah Ibrahim (Research associate, summer 2007) John Pedersen – breeder stock multiplication and selection (2006) Eric Pedersen, Lyse Boisvert, Matthew Polinsky and Vika Cummins – summer student (2005-2008) Family members & Meadow Ridge staff: Tom, Jenny, and Cecilia Robertson, Neil Morrison, Rob Peace. Collaborators: John Gruszka (P.A.Sask) Dr. Solignac (Paris, France), Dr. Ralph Buchler (Germany), Dr. Rob Currie (U of M), and Manitoba Queen Breeders Association, Dr. S. Pernal (ACC, AB), Drs. T. Rinderer, & R. Danka (Baton Rouge, LA), S. Cobey (Davis, CA), BC Queen Breeders Association (T&E Huxter), Geoff Wilson (P.A. Sask).