Re: [ECOLOG-L] quantifying snails, slugs, worms, and mushroom biomasses

[Bruce A. Snyder]

For collecting earthworms (and I assume you do mean earthworms, rather than
any other vermiform taxa), extractions by electricity and chemicals (dilute
formalin, spicy mustard solutions) do work. Chemical extraction especially
can vary in effectiveness on different species, which could throw off a
biomass estimate. The "octet" machines that are designed for earthworm
extraction use a high voltage and low amps and send the current in all
directions to affect all individuals in that area (see e.g., Weyers et al.
2008). Other methods of delivering current into soil may work but may also
be dangerous. Keep in mind that this electricity travels through soil
moisture and soil moisture is variable is space and time. My understanding
is that the chemicals have a limited lifetime in the soils, but then again
you will be altering soil moisture by adding these solutions.

When possible, the best way to get a truly quantitative sample of earthworm
populations is to dig a soil monolith (usually 30 x 30 x 10-15 cm) and
hand-sort through the soil. That said, extraction methods are widely used
and accepted.

-Bruce
~~~
Bruce A. Snyder, PhD  basny...@ksu.edu
Instructor; Coordinator, REU and URM Programs
REU: ksu.edu/reu URM: ecogen.ksu.edu/urm.html
Earthworms Across Kansas: ksu.edu/earthworm/
Personal: 
www-personal.k-state.edu/~basnyder/
Office: 136 Ackert Hall
 785-532-2430
Mail: Kansas State University
  Division of Biology
  116 Ackert Hall
  Manhattan, KS 66506-4901
"How many miles of unexplored caves are there?”

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Ecology Fact and Fiction Bee collapse

[David L. McNeely]

Cherubini, the pesticide industry is hardly an uninterested party in the 
question of whether pesticides are involved in colony collapse.  The original 
article brought up by Tyson is just frantic shouting with no substance, but to 
turn to the pesticide industry is not an unbiased approach.  That would be akin 
to asking the tobacco industry what caused lung cancer in the 1940s and 1950s.

It is not true, according to USDA   (  
http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=15572  )  that there are more hives 
than fifty years ago, certainly not in the U.S., where the number has been 
halved since the 1940s.  And colony collapse was not a known problem fifty 
years ago, so a more recent date from which to start the trend line would make 
more sense, or to look at the entire history, not just point to two data points 
along the line.  Colony collapse is to date a phenomenon mainly of North 
America and Europe, though it may be spreading.  In some parts of the world 
there may have been more hives established for economic reasons, or in response 
to declines in North America.  Argentina comes to mind.

Unlike the pesticide industry, unbiased observers seem to implicate a wide 
variety of causes, even including pesticides used to control the varroa mite, 
the pesticide industry's favorite culprit.

David McNeely

 Paul Cherubini  wrote: 
> On Jun 12, 2013, at 11:39 AM, Wayne Tyson wrote:
> 
> > I'd especially like well-informed comments on this article: 
> > http://www.nationofchange.org/worldwide-honey-bee-collapse-lesson-ecology-1371046688
> 
> The pesticide industry provides balanced information on the honey bee
> health issue. For example, in their Fact Sheet, Bayer Crop-Science makes
> these two key points: http://beecare.bayer.com/media-center/fact-sheet
> 
> 1) "Despite ongoing reports on substantial bee losses in some regions, the 
> overall 
> number of honey bee colonies worldwide has increased by some 45% over the 
> last 50 years, not decreased."
> 
> 2) "It is widely believed among the scientific community that Varroa mite is 
> the 
> main factor affecting the health of honey bee colonies."
> 
> Both Bayer and Monsanto are actively working on Varroa mite control solutions.
> 
> Monsanto Research:
> 
> Beekeepers, Monsanto come together for summit Jun 13, 2013
> http://www.arcamax.com/business/businessnews/s-1341265?source=outbrain
> 
> Excerpt: "The company is working on a new technology intended to
> control a tiny insect, called the varroa mite, that has been a major
> factor in the decimation of honey bees. If Monsanto successfully
> brings the technology to market, it could be a blockbuster."
> 
> Bayer Crop-Science Research:
> 
> A new way of protecting bees against varroa mites
> http://beecare.bayer.com/media-center/news/news-detail/a-new-way-of-protecting-bees-against-varroa-mites
> 
> Excerpt: "In the past, efforts to control this parasite have concentrated 
> exclusively on treatment in the hive, but foraging bees then bring back
> new mites when they return home. Bayer’s scientists have been working
> with bee researchers from Frankfurt University to develop the varroa
> gate, which is designed to prevent reinfection. This innovative front
> door should effectively protect the hive against the deadly parasite."
> 
> Paul Cherubini
> El Dorado, Calif.

--
David McNeely

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Ecology Fact and Fiction Bee collapse

[M.S. Patterson]

If you want bee info, a great person to get a hold of is Rusty.

http://www.honeybeesuite.com/papers/

She's the director of the Native Bee Conservancy, as well as someone who 
keeps up on bee research.


Another good resource is https://agdev.anr.udel.edu/maarec/category/ccd/

Frankly, time will tell if neonicotiniods are a major contributing 
factor to CCD or not, based on the European experiment.
There is evidence to suggest that even quite low doses of some of these 
pesticides can reduce the foraging efficiency of some species of bee. 
For which see:


Morandin, L. A., and M. L. Winston. 2003. Effects of Novel Pesticides on 
Bumble Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Colony Health and Foraging Ability. 
Environmental Entomology 32:555-563.


Mommaerts, V., S. Reynders, J. Boulet, L. Besard, G. Sterk, and G. 
Smagghe. 2010b. Risk assessment for side-effects of neonicotinoids 
against bumblebees with and without impairing foraging behavior. 
Ecotoxicology 19:207-215.


-m

On 06/12/2013 11:39 AM, Wayne Tyson wrote:

I'd like some better-informed opinion and references to replicated research on 
this topic.

I'd especially like well-informed comments on this article:

http://www.nationofchange.org/worldwide-honey-bee-collapse-lesson-ecology-1371046688

WT