engleski

IMPACT OF RADIOFREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD ON SOME BEHAVIOUR PATTERNS OF HONEYBEE COLONIES (Apis mellifera)

Mobile phone base stations known as tower antenna use frequencies of 900 MHz or 1800 MHz and pulsed at low frequencies. This radiofrequency radiation could induce some alteration in the physiological functions of living organisms, especially on the pollinator insects, like honeybee colonies. Honeybees presents the valuable experimental animals to study effect of atmospheric environment electro pollution because in their abdomens they possess magnetite granules which helps them in navigation. Next, the results of some experiments suggest that radiation produced by mobile phone base station towers is actually frying the navigational skills of the foragers and preventing them from returning back to their hives, and there are some reports of sudden unexplainable disappearance of adult honeybees, syndrome called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). In the light of this honeybee characteristics, aim of this study was to determine some behaviour patterns regarding biological-rearing status, strength of honey bee colonies, situated at different distances from two mobile phone base stations, in field conditions. Fifteen honeybee colonies (Apis mellifera) were selected, and situated at three locations: O (n ═ 5 ; 65, 41 m and 159, 46 m distance from mobile phone base tower, respectively) ; H (n ═ 5 ; 790 m and 700 m distance from mobile phone base tower, respectively) ; K (n ═ 5 ; 1630 m and 1520 m distance from mobile phone base tower, respectively). Before transportation of hives with honey bee colonies to selected locations the average frequency and electric field level were measured at each location using power density meter NARDA SRM 3000 (NARDA, USA). During one year observation period few clinical inspections of honeybee colonies were conducted and the following biological aspect were recorded: colony strength - the total area under honeybee brood and comb surface covered with adult bees was measured according to Liebefeld method ; presence of queen cells on combs ; and aggressiveness as well as composure as rearing parameters. At the frequency of 937, 5 MHz for each location the electric field level were measured: O ═ 1, 0 V/m ; H ═ 0, 027 V/m ; K ═ 0, 065 V/m The most significant differences in honeybee colonies behaviour, as well as in biological parameters, was observed during first two months after colonies exposure and changes were visible only for colonies situated at location O. The significantly higher aggressiveness level of adult honeybees, appearance of new queen cells, and decline in colony strength were observed. It can be concluded that exposure of honeybee colonies in vicinity to mobile phone base stations in field conditions, as unfavourable environmental factor, may induce alteration in the honeybee behaviour and biological activities, probably as adaptation process consequence.

honey bee ; base station ; radiofrequency radiation ; behaviour

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