Discussion The results of the laboratory supported the hypothesis that the unknown bees were hybridized honeybees were hybridized with a European mother and an African father. The hypothesis was supported by the wing-length frequency of the different types of honeybees, the probability of different types of honeybees having a certain wing-length, and the number of mtDNA bands shown for the unknown bees during electrophoresis. The unknown bees wing-lengths were scattered throughout the ranges of European bees and African bees (Figure 1). The unknown bee wing-lengths were not clustered around either the typical range for African bees or European bees, therefore, falling in neither category (Figure 1). The greatest frequency of unknown bee wing-lengths …show more content…
Alone, genetic testing would not have revealed if the bees were hybridized. While it was possible for a hybridized bee with a European mother and African father to have two mtDNA bands on an electrophoresis gel, it was also possible for a purely European bee to have two mtDNA bands. Additionally, the wing-length data by itself would not have made it possible to identity the unknown bee’s exact heritage. The wing-length data showed that the unknown bees had various wing-lengths that did not characterize them as African or European bees. African bees typically had much smaller wing-lengths and European bees typically had much bigger wing-lengths than the unknown bees. If the unknown bees had been European, they would have been clustered in the range of European bee wing-lengths. If the unknown bees had been African, they would have clustered in the range of African bee wing-lengths. Therefore, this data does show the unknown bees are hybridized, but may not identity if the unknown bees have a European mother and an African father. By combining the wing-length data and the genetic testing, it is possible to discern that the unknown bees are hybridized with a European mother and an African …show more content…
In the years since African bees invaded the United States, hybridization has become common. This has been problematic to beekeepers, as hybridized bees have heightened defensive behavior that may lead to serious injuries, and they produce less honey than European bees. However, due to scientists using genetic testing and morphometry, it has become possible to distinguish between different species. These scientists have been able to solve real world problems and help others deal with problems that may result when speciation occurs. This lab also provides an example of how invasive species may create damage when introduced to unnatural environments. The aggressive nature of the African honeybee presents danger to other organisms in the surrounding ecosystem. The European honeybee species have suffered due to the African honeybees’ habit of taking over their colonies and creating hybrids. This incident remains a warning to scientist to take care and consider the consequences when releasing a species into a new
There are two special populations portrayed in The Secret Life of Bees: African Americans and women. August, June, and May Boatwright along with Rosaleen are all African-American women. Other main characters such as Lily Owens and Zach Taylor fit into one special population but not both.
The beet Lab experiment was tested to examine bio-membranes and the amount of betacyanin extracted from the beets. The betacyanin is a reddish color because it transmits wavelengths in red color and absorbs most other colors. The membrane is composed of a phospholipid bilayer with proteins embedded in it. The phospholipid bilayer forms a barrier that is impermeable to many substances like large hydrophilic molecules. The cells of beets are red and have large vacuoles that play a big role for the reddish pigment. This experiment aimed to answer the question, “How do cell membranes work?” The hypothesis we aim to test is: Cell membranes work as a fluid mosaic bilayer of phospholipids with many embedded proteins. We predicted that the 50% Acetone will break down the most betacyanin. Our hypothesis was proven wrong by our data collected. We could test our predictions by doing the experiment multiple times and compare the
Kidd, Sue M. “The Secret Life of Bees.” Hunter, Jeffrey W. Twenty-First Century Novels: The First Decade. Vol. 3. Detroit, Gale, 2011. 983-987. Gale Cengage Learning. Print. 14 February 2014.
People from all over the world, from every walk of life, regardless of color, age, gender or religious beliefs all have one thing in common, that is to consume food in order to survive. Many places around the world have food scares yet America has access to a lavish selection of crops to choose from. The most nutritious part of any human’s diet is a result of insect pollination. In such manner, pesticide use is causing honey bee colony collapse disorder putting their existence in grave danger and posing major food source shortages.
It is not unusual for bees to die or colonies to be lost, but the nature and extent reported in the year 2006 was alarming. Statistics gathered in the United States alone show that 50-90% of the bees have been lost so far, due to this scientific phenomenon (Cox-Foster et al., 2007, p. 284). Honeybees play a very major role in the pollination of plants and therefore these huge losses have become a serious concern. There are many reasons that have been floated and acclaimed to be behind CCD and they include pesticides, parasites, electromagnetic radiation, malnutrition, climatic changes, and urban sprawl, among many others.... ...
We initially cut six uniform barrels of beet utilizing a cork borer. We ensured that the majority of the barrels were a similar size. Next, we put the chambers of beet tissue hotel in a beaker and flushed them with tap water for two minutes keeping in mind the end goal to wash the betacyanin from the harmed cells at first glance. They were washed similarly, and a while later we disposed of the shaded flush water. Delicately, we put each of the beets into various, dry test tubes. While moving the beets we were mindful so as to make an effort not to cut, squash, or generally harm them. At long last we marked the test tubes 1-6. We utilized cold and hot medicines for various test tubes. For the cool treatment, we put 2 tubes in ice (5 and 6).
Think for a moment of a world without bees; a world without our buzzing friend. They might look like they barely do much to help our ecosystem. However, bees are a vital part of our agriculture and this makes it vital that we keep them around. The bee population decline in recent years is troubling for both us and our little friends. As their friends, we must do all we can in order to ensure their survival which in turn will ensure our own.
The purpose of interbreeding with African killer bees is to make the specie stronger so they are not killed by things such as pesticides and starvation. One strength for interbreeding with African killer bees is explained by Associate professor Kirk Visscher. He performed a study of 60 colonies and concluded the 20 colonies that suffered from CCD were the ones without at least one African killer bee in the colony (Ring 11). This shows that the African killer bees are a stronger specie than honey bees, and can withstand to live through hazardous conditions. Another strength is that African killer bees are more resistant to varroa mite which is a deadly parasite greatly affecting the collapse of colonies (Ring 12). There are only two minimal weaknesses for interbreeding with killer bees. They are more difficult to manage in colonies, and they have a more aggressive attitude and more of a likelihood to sting someone (Ring 11,12). These are insignificant problems because, commonly, some bees in regular honey bee hives are hard to manage, and if they were kept in rural areas managed by professionals, then the bees wouldn’t be able to attack anyone. Interbreeding with African killer bees is the best solution because it is the most cost effective way to solve the numerous problems of
Honey Bee Population Decline Daisy Childs 11-20-14 Professor Garcia ENG 1027. INTRODUCTION: Apis mellifera, commonly known as the honey bee, are solely responsible for pollinating one-third of the world’s crops, and they are in danger of dying off, according to the article “Natures Dying Migrant Worker,” written by Josephine Marcotty for the Star Tribune. This honey bee population decline poses a huge threat to our environment, farmers, and economy. It is assumed by BBC News writer Zoe Gough in her article,"Wild Honey Bees: Does Their Disappearance Matter?" that all of the wild honey bees in England and Wales are gone.
Thomas, Pat. "Give Bees a Chance." Ecologist (London, England) Vol. 37, No. 5. June 2007: 30-35. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.
Miline, Ira Mark. Ed. "The Secret Life of Bees." Novels for Students. Vol. 27. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Print.
The lives of humans and honeybees have been intertwined for millennia. For at least 8,000 years, humans have sought honey for applications in disciplines ranging from medicine to the culinary arts. But while humans love honey, honeybees provide a much more valuable service: pollination. As the world’s most prolific pollinator, honeybees are essential to the reproduction of many plant species, which in turn benefits other animals and plants. In fact, humans heavily rely on honeybees to pollinate our own food source, a service that is worth billions of dollars a year. Unfortunately, the honeybee population is in a severe and prolonged decline, often in the form of colony collapse disorder, in which entire colonies are seemingly abandoned by adult bees overnight. Honeybees are an indispensable component of modern agriculture, and a failure to discern and address the many causes of honeybee population decline – both manmade and natural – could have disastrous consequences for the environment and human society.
The Apis Mellifera, or honey bee, have survived on this planet for fifty million years. This species of bee is responsible for pollinating flowers, grass, trees and crops around the world. Much of the food we eat is dependent on honey bees for pollination. Our ecosystem depends on the survival of the honey bee. Colonies of honeybees have been disappearing at an alarming rate around the world due to parasites, viral and bacterial diseases, and the introduction of pesticides and herbicides. Over the past six years, on average, 30 percent of all the honey bee colonies in the U.S. died off over the winter of 2012(NPR/TED). If this trend continues to spiral downward, honey bees will disappear from the world. We must understand the importance of the Honey bee and change our environmental practices in order to sustain this vital insect.
Winfree, R. . The conservation and restoration of wild bees. Annuals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Volume 1195, 3 May 2010, Pages 169 – 197.
Arthropods are in the kingdom Animalia which is in the subphylum Arthropoda. A species can be classified as an Arthropod if they have an exoskeleton, a coelom, and if they are mostly dioecious. An “ exoskeleton is an external skeleton made of chitin. [A] coelom is fluid filled cavity between organs and body wall” (Babin,2017). Examples of Arthropods are: spiders, ticks, millipedes, and centipedes. The objective of this experiment was to find Arthropods and test. Different habitats were established to see which will produce a greater amount of Arthropod. It was believed that the Arthropod diversity of a shaded area will be more that that of an area near a canal. The shaded area would have more arthropod diversity because more plants would be around it. Since there will be leaves and trees, plant diversity will be greater. Also, having “ plant diversity can positively affect arthropod{s}” ( Bennett and Gratton, 2013) because there will be more arthropods to utilize.