Frazier Maryann, Muli Elliud, Patch Harland
Department of Entomology and Center for Pollinator Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; email:
Department of Life Sciences, South Eastern Kenya University, Kitui, Kenya.
Annu Rev Entomol. 2024 Jan 25;69:439-453. doi: 10.1146/annurev-ento-020823-095359.
In Africa, humans evolved as honey hunters of honey bee subspecies adapted to diverse geographical regions. Beekeeping today is practiced much as it was when Africans moved from honey hunting to beekeeping nearly 5,000 years ago, with beekeepers relying on seasonally available wild bees. Research suggests that populations are resilient, able to resist diseases and novel parasites. Distinct biomes, as well as environmental pressures, shaped the behavior and biology of these bees and in turn influenced how indigenous beekeeping developed. It appears that passive beekeeping practices that enabled free-living populations contributed to the overall resilience and health of the bee. There is clearly a need for research aimed at a deeper understanding of bee biology and the ecosystems from which they benefit and on which humans depend, as well as a growing realization that the management of these bees requires an indigenous approach that reflects a broader knowledge base and the economics of local communities and markets.
在非洲，人类作为蜂蜜采集者进化而来，所采集的蜜蜂亚种适应了不同的地理区域。如今的养蜂方式与近5000年前非洲人从蜂蜜采集转向养蜂时大致相同，养蜂人依赖季节性出现的野生蜜蜂。研究表明，蜂群具有恢复力，能够抵抗疾病和新出现的寄生虫。不同的生物群落以及环境压力塑造了这些蜜蜂的行为和生物学特性，进而影响了本土养蜂业的发展。似乎使自由生活的蜂群得以生存的被动养蜂方式有助于蜜蜂的整体恢复力和健康。显然，有必要开展研究，以更深入地了解蜜蜂生物学以及它们所受益且人类赖以生存的生态系统，同时人们也越来越意识到，对这些蜜蜂的管理需要一种本土方法，这种方法应反映更广泛的知识基础以及当地社区和市场的经济情况。
