Evaluating cape honey bee sperm quality and the in vitro effect of miticides on sperm functionality and structure

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Date

2021

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

University of Western Cape

Abstract

Apis mellifera (honey bees) are essential pollinators and thus considered a keystone species. Reproductive success is therefore important to the survival of the species, with drone sperm quality playing a vital role in fertilization success and colony health. Drone sperm quality is determined by multiple aspects including both structural and functional parameters. Particularly, motility, a functional parameter of sperm, plays an important role in reproductive success by determining the ability of sperm to move in the reproductive tract of the queen and to participate in fertilization. However, for the South African honey bee subspecies, the Cape honey bee (Apis mellifera capensis Escholtz), data on sperm quality parameters, are lacking.

Description

Magister Scientiae (Medical Bioscience) - MSc(MBS)

Keywords

Honey bee, Drone, Cape honey bee, Sperm quality, Sperm motility

Citation