Scientists around the hives have been measuring temperatures for a long time. “In the last 10 years, breaking the top records has become more and more common. The episodes of heat are getting longer every year,” says Přidal, who advises beekeepers to ensure grazing by planting honey trees, such as willows, fruit species, and lindens.
On the contrary, according to Pridal, the disadvantages in cities are often mown lawns and planting ornamental trees, such as sakura, which have nectar at all. In recent years, Czech farmers have also more often chosen crops that give less nectar than the original ones. An exception is not rape, for which currently cultivated varieties are in many places completely insignificant in terms of providing nectar and pollen. In addition, rapeseed is associated with its excessive use of chemicals, as a result of which bee colonies weaken and have problems with the creation of the subsequent winter condition and resistance to viruses.
Beekeepers have had to deal with significant deaths after this winter. The mite population graduated in 2019 and participated in the distribution of dangerous bee viruses. Experts estimate that about a fifth of the hives has died. In the Czech Republic, there are almost 800,000 hives and more than 60,000 beekeepers. Both numbers are record-breaking within the planet.
Mites cause varroosis, in which bee viruses also spread. “The problem is the transmission of viruses by the external parasitic mite Varroa destructor. Viruses have recently had increasing virulence, and the damage is becoming more and more frequent. Even timely suppression by natural substances such as organic acids may not bring a solution, as has been the case so far,” says Přidal, who, together with experts from CEITEC MU, also participates in clarifying the structure of bee viruses. “We are also involved in verifying procedures for improving the condition of bee colonies,” said Přidal.
They also had to deal with the deaths of bee colonies at the MENDELU beekeeping department. This year, they lost more than half of them during the winter, early spring, and spring. “At the time of the quarantine measure, workers and students had time to analyze dead bees and rescue the remaining hives. Even so, some research data was partially lost,” Pridal added.
More news
-
On 13 September, Emmanuelle Charpentier, a French researcher in the fields of microbiology, genetics and biochemistry, received the honorary degree of doctor honoris causa at Mendel University in Brno. Together with her colleague Jennifer Doudna,…19. 9. 2023
-
Digital Water Lab: two MENDELU faculties collaborate on a new form of teaching…
A digital water laboratory is being established at the Institute of Applied and Landscape Ecology, which will be part of a network of centres using mixed reality to teach future experts in water management. The digitisation of water management data,…6. 9. 2023 -
LDF researchers help kick-start forestry in Aragvi, Georgia
Georgia's Aragvi - a newly established protected landscape area (PLA) of almost 100,000 hectares - is located in three separate valleys about 80 km north of the Georgian capital Tbilisi. "We are working in an area with harsh winters, sultry summers…1. 9. 2023 -
Science team focuses on the decline of seagrasses, important ocean ecosystems
Seagrass beds are considered ocean rainforests. They are some of the richest marine ecosystems and play an important ecological role in the world of the seas and oceans. Globally, however, seagrass meadows are declining, with a species of seagrass…8. 8. 2023 -
MENDELU in Mongolia helps with the implementation of the Czech tourist signage…
Mongolia will use the Czech system of marking tourist routes. The Mongolian Tourist Association (MWA) has signed a contract with the Czech Tourist Club in Bogd Khan Mountain, one of the oldest protected areas in the world. The sprawling capital city…10. 7. 2023 -
Scientists develop new fertilizers for drought, should supply plants with…
New fertilisers being developed by scientists at Mendel University in Brno in collaboration with a commercial partner could help plants overcome drought stress. The natural-based preparations should provide crops with a controlled supply of…27. 6. 2023 -
School Forest Enterprise Masaryk Forest Křtiny and Forests of the Czech…
The Memorandum of Cooperation was signed on 23 June by Tomáš Vrška, Director of the Masaryk Forest School in Křtiny, and Dalibor Šafařík, Director General of the State Enterprise Forests of the Czech Republic. The agreement was created with the full…23. 6. 2023 -
The Dutch Ambassador visited MENDELU
On Wednesday 7 June, Mendel University in Brno was visited by the Dutch Ambassador Daan Feddo Huisinga. The main subject of the meeting was the issue of water in the landscape, which was presented by Milada Šťastná, Head of the Department of Applied…8. 6. 2023 -
A student tries to make fertilizer from the waste produced in recirculating…
Experts from the Faculty of Agronomy have extensive freshwater fish farming right on the premises of MENDELU. They use the so-called recirculating aquaculture systems, which allow sustainable breeding by reusing the water in the tanks. Until now,…7. 6. 2023 -
NAB reversed the decision: doctoral students can continue their studies at the…
On 19 May, the Review Commission of the National Accreditation Bureau revoked the decision of the NAB Council to terminate the authorization to implement three doctoral study programmes at the Faculty of Business Administration and discontinued the…31. 5. 2023