No abstract

Colony defence differences between two honey bee subspecies Apis mellifera cypria and A. m. caucasica are reported. A. m. cypria formed significantly (P < 0.001) more defensive balls of bees covering intruders than A. m. caucasica in response to a predatory wasp attack.Although there were differences in ball formation, the number of bees attacking the wasp did not differ in the balls that were formed (P > 0.10).In addition to ball formation, A. m. cypria was tested for differences in frequency of attacking, shaking, shimmering, line formation and lunging when confronted with a live tethered wasp, dead tethered wasp or just the tethering line. Only the dead wasp elicited differential response. It is suggested that these difference in anti-predator behaviour are related to the high predation risks of A. m. cyrpria. Caucasian bees and their hybrids do not face to such wasp predation due to the cool weather in the Caucasus region.Diferencias en la defensa de la colonia entre dos subespecies de abejas (Apis mellifera cipria y Apis mellifera caucásica) ResumenEn este trabajo se informa sobre las diferencias en la defensa de la colonia entre las subespecies de la abeja de la miel Apis mellifera cypria y A. m. caucasica. A. m. cypria formó significativamente más bolas defensivas de abejas cubriendo a los intrusos que A. m. caucasica en respuesta a un ataque de la avispa depredadora (P < 0,001). Aunque hubo diferencias en la formación de bolas, el número de abejas que atacó a la avispa no fue diferente en las bolas que se formaron (P > 0,10). Además de la formación de bolas, en A. m. cypria se pusieron a prueba las diferencias en la frecuencia de ataque, agitado, brillo, formación de la línea y embestida cuando se enfrentaron a una avispa viva atada, a una muerta atada o simplemente al hilo de anclaje. Sólo la avispa muerta provocó una respuesta diferente. Se sugiere que estas diferencias en el comportamiento frente a los depredadores están relacionados con los riesgos de predación altos de A. m. cyrpria. Las abejas caucásicas y sus híbridos no hacen frente a la depredación de la avispa debido al clima frío en la región del Cáucaso.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of different doses of L-Ergothioneine (LE), cystein and N-acetylcystein (NAC) on post-thawing semen parameters in rams. Ejaculates collected from four Tushin Rams were evaluated and pooled at 35°C. Semen samples were diluted with skim-milk based extender containing LE (5, 10 mM), Cystein (5, 10 mM), NAC (5, 10 mM) or not containing any antioxidant (control) and loaded to 0.25 ml French straws. Straws were cooled to 5°C for 2 h, frozen in liquid nitrogen vapour (aprox. -120°C) for 15 min and then being stored in liquid nitrogen until thawing process. Straws were thawed in water bath (37°C for 1 min). The percentages of motility, viability, abnormal acrosome, total abnormalities, membrane integrity (hypoosmatic swelling test, HOST) were statistically assessed. Also total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidatif stres (TOS) were evaluated in samples from replications. It was seen that LE was superior to N-acetylcystein and cystein in motility, viability, defected acrosome, total morphological abnormalities, HOST and TAC, (P<0.05) except cystein in motility. Neverthless, there was not any statistically difference between LE and control groups (P>0.05). It was conlcluded that there was not any beneficial or detrimental effects of LE on post thawing semen parameters in rams while it was determined that cystein and NAC may have been some detrimental effects on post thawing semen parameters in rams. These results warrants future scientific studies on LE, NAC and cystein in ram semen cryopreservation. Keywords: Ram semen, Cryopreservation, L-Ergothioneine, Cystein, N-acetylcystein, Tushin Koç Spermasının Dondurulması Üzerine L-Ergothionin, N-asetil sistein ve Sisteinin Etkileri ÖzetBu çalışmanın amacı, koçlarda L-Ergothionin (LE), sistein ve N-asetil sisteinin (NAC) farklı dozlarının çözüm sonu sperma parametreleri üzerine etkisini belirlemekti. Dört Tuj ırkı koçtan alınan ejakülatlar değerlendirildi ve 35°C'de karışım yapıldı. Sperma örnekleri, LE (5, 10 mM), Sistein (5, 10 mM), NAC (5, 10 mM) içeren veya antioksidan içermeyen (kontrol), yağsız süt temelli sulandırıcıyla sulandırılarak, 0.25 ml'lik payetlere dolduruldu. Payetler 5°C'ye 2 saat süreyle soğutuldu, sıvı azot buharında (yaklaşık -120°C) 15 dak. süre ile donduruldu ve çözme işlemine kadar sıvı azot içinde saklandı. Payetler su banyosunda (37°C'de 1 dak.) çözüldü. Motilite, canlılık, anormal akrozom, toplam anormalite ve membran bütünlüğü (hipoozmotik şişme testi, HOST) yüzdeleri istatistiksel olarak değerlendirildi. Ayrıca, toplam antioksidan kapasite (TAK) ve toplam oksidatif stres (TOS), replikasyonlardan elde edilen örneklerde değerlendirildi. LE'nin motilite (sistein hariç), canlılık, akrozom hasarı, total morfolojik anormalite, HOST ve TAK oranları bakımından, NAC ve sisteine üstünlük sağladığı görüldü (P<0.05). Yine de, LE ve kontrol grubu arasında istatistiksel bir fark yoktu (P>0.05). Sistein ve NAC'ın koçlarda çözüm sonu spermatolojik parametreler üzerine bazı olumsuz etkileri belirlen...

The effect of agrochemicals and beekeeping treatments on drones have not been widely investigated compared to workers or queens. In the present study, we investigated the chronic exposure of chemicals set (deltamethrin, acetamiprid, oxalic acid, fumagillin, and amitraz) on some sperm parameters and on the histomorphology of seminal vesicles. We also assessed the colony development and nosema load before and after the exposure. Thirty native Apis mellifera anatolica honeybee colonies with sister queens equalized with brood and total frame of bees were used for this experiment. Five colonies were used for each group. Deltamethrin, acetamiprid and fumagillin were given as oral chronic exposure at final concentrations of 25.10 -6 mg L −1 , 0.01 m L −1 and 50 mg L −1 respectively in syrup solution (50/50). Colonies were exposed to oxalic acid by spraying 5 mL per frame space of 3% (w/v) of oxalic acid dihydrate. Finally, the amitraz was applied based on the manufacturer's instructions. The concentrations chosen represented the field-realistic concentrations and those used by beekeepers in the region. Results showed that deltamethrin reduced brood production. In the same group, we found a high increase in nosema load. All treatments decreased sperm count except for fumagillin but this compound increased sperm mortality and increased the percentage of sperm with defected acrosome integrity. The amitraz exhibited a high sperm mortality and high percentage of sperm with defected membrane integrity function. The sperm parameters such as the count, the motility, the acrosome integrity, the membrane function of sperm, and the histomorphology of seminal vesicles of drones exposed to oxalic acid were the most affected. Bee medications commonly used such as oxalic acid and fumagillin should be more investigated and should be considered by beekeepers and particularly queen breeders.

The aim of the current study was to determine the optimum concentration of bovine serum albumin for post-thawing quality of drone sperm and this is the first study to evaluate the effect of BSA supplemented TL-Hepes based extenders for drone semen cryopreservation. Sexually mature drones were used for semen collection. Pooled semen was diluted with TL-Hepes based extender supplemented with different concentrations of BSA (1 mg/mL, 3 mg/mL, and 5 mg/mL) or without BSA (control), at a final concentration of 100x10 6 spermatozoon/mL. Motility, plasma membrane functional integrity (HOST), and defected acrosome (PSA-FITC) were evaluated in the study. At post thaw, the highest sperm motility rates were obtained in the BSA5 group (P<0.05). Functional integrity of sperm membrane was better preserved in the BSA3 and BSA5 groups compared to the other groups. The acrosomal integrity rates were higher in BSA5 group than in control group (P<0.05). The study shows that bovine serum albumin supplemented TL-Hepes based extenders have beneficial effect on drone semen parameters at post-thaw. The results of the study demonstrated a notable advantage of using 5 mg/mL of BSA in TL-Hepes based extender.