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Mapping floral resources for honey bees in New Zealand at the catchment scale Full text
2018
Ausseil, Anne‐Gaelle E. | Dymond, John R. | Newstrom, Linda
Honey bees require nectar and pollen from flowers: nectar for energy and pollen for growth. The demand for nectar and pollen varies during the year, with more pollen needed in spring for colony population growth and more nectar needed in summer to sustain the maximum colony size and collect surplus nectar stores for winter. Sufficient bee forage is therefore necessary to ensure a healthy bee colony. Land‐use changes can reduce the availability of floral resources suitable for bees, thereby increasing the susceptibility of bees to other stressors such as disease and pesticides. In contrast, land‐based management decisions to protect or plant bee forage can enhance pollen and nectar supply to bees while meeting other goals such as riparian planting for water‐quality improvement. Commercial demand for honey can also put pressure on floral resources through over‐crowding of hives. To help understand and manage floral resources for bees, we developed a spatial model for mapping monthly nectar and pollen production from maps of land cover. Based on monthly estimated production data we mapped potential monthly supply of nectar and pollen to a given apiary location in the landscape. This is done by summing the total production within the foraging range of the apiary while subtracting the estimated nectar converted to energy for collection. Ratios of estimated supply over theoretical hive demand may then be used to infer a potential landscape carrying capacity to sustain hives. This model framework is quantitative and spatial, utilizing estimated flight energy costs for nectar foraging. It can contribute to management decisions such as where apiaries could be placed in the landscape depending on floral resources and where nectar limited areas may be located. It can contribute to planning areas for bee protection or planting such as in riparian vegetation. This would aid managed bee health, wild pollinator protection, and honey production. We demonstrate the methods in a case study in New Zealand where there is a growing demand for mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) honey production.
Show more [+] Less [-]Animal Production Unit Full text
2018
The Animal experimental station has been established when the Faculty was re-located in its new campus in Khadouri-Tulkarm. The farm is used for training of students majoring in animal production and protection and for conducting researches by the academic staff. The animal experimental station has different sections which include: 1- Dairy Farm- houses a herd of 50 Holestein Friesian dairy cows. These high yielding cows are used for training of the animal science students as well as veterinary medicine students in management , nutrition and health aspects .The farm is equipped with up to date facilities. It also has a mini-dairy processing unit. 2-Sheep and Goats farm- houses a variety of sheep and goat breeds; like Awassi and Assaf for sheep and saanen, Damascus, and Anglo-Nubian for goats. These breeds are characterized by their production, productivity and resistance to disease .This flock is available for training sheep and goat farmers in the northern part of the country. 3-Rabbit Farm- houses a variety of rabbit breeds including domestic and exotic rabbits. Students are trained on aspect of rabbit production , management and nutrition . Rabbit are also2 used for research and practical classes in the department of animal production and veterinary medicine . 4-Poultry Farm- houses broiler and well as egg laying hens.The farm has several broiler units . The farm has several broiler units. These units are used to train students in the department and to carry out research project by masters students from the faculty of higher studies. 5-Equine Farm- houses a number of horses that are used for training purposes .Students are subjected to training in aspect like handling , management, and health issues of horses. 6-An Apiary- houses several bee hives for student training .
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