EFFECT OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD DERIVED FROM ELECTRIC FENCE SYSTEM ON SPERM ACTIVITIES OF HONEYBEES (Apis mellifera L.)

Year 2025, Volume: 25 Issue: 2, 279 - 288

Yaşar Erdoğan

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from electric fence systems on physiological and reproductive parameters of male honeybees (Apis mellifera caucasica). The study was conducted between May and August 2024 at the Bayburt University Beekeeping Application and Research Center, with five experimental groups. Hives were positioned at varying distances (1–2.5 m) from the fence. The findings showed that the average body weight (245.4 mg), sexual maturity rate (58.56%), and sperm concentration (0.87 ± 0.04 × 10 ⁶/µL) of drones closest to the electric fence were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). The electric field effect was limited in groups at greater distances, with statistically insignificant differences in some parameters. No significant differences were found between groups in sperm volume. Results demonstrate that electric fields from fence systems suppress developmental processes and reproductive physiology of drones in a distance-dependent manner. Lower body weight, decreased sperm concentration, and proportion of mature males in colonies near the fence show electromagnetic stress is a significant risk for bee health. Future studies should examine the effects of electromagnetic fields at different frequencies and strengths on larval development, sperm morphology, oxidative stress markers, and gene expression profiles.

Keywords

Honey bee , Electric fence , Electromagnetic field , Sperm quality , Drone

Elektrikli Çit Sistemi Tarafından Oluşturulan Elektromanyetik Alanın Bal Arılarının (Apis mellifera L.) Sperm Aktivitesine Etkisi

Abstract

Bu çalışma, elektrikli çit sistemlerinden kaynaklanan elektromanyetik alanların (EMA) erkek bal arılarının (Apis mellifera caucasica) fizyolojik ve üreme parametreleri üzerindeki etkilerini araştırmak amacıyla yürütülmüştür. Çalışma, Mayıs-Ağustos 2024 tarihleri arasında Bayburt Üniversitesi Arıcılık Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi'nin yazlık arılığında gerçekleştirilmiş ve beş farklı deney grubu oluşturulmuştur. Kovanlar, çitten farklı mesafelere (1-2.5 m) yerleştirilmiştir.Bulgular, elektrikli çite en yakın kolonilerdeki erkek arıların ortalama vücut ağırlığının (245,4 mg), cinsel olgunluk oranının (%58.56) ve sperm konsantrasyonunun (0.87 ± 0.04 × 10⁶/µL) önemli ölçüde azaldığını göstermiştir (p < 0.05). Buna karşılık, elektrik alan etkisi daha uzak mesafelerdeki gruplarda sınırlı kalmış ve bazı parametrelerde istatistiksel olarak anlamsız farklılıklar gözlenmiştir. Sperm hacmi açısından gruplar arasında anlamlı bir fark bulunamamıştır. Sonuçlar, elektrikli çit sistemleri tarafından üretilen elektrik alanının, erkek arıların gelişim süreçlerini ve üreme fizyolojisini mesafeye bağlı olarak baskıladığını göstermektedir. Çite yakın kolonilerde gözlenen düşük vücut ağırlığı, azalmış sperm konsantrasyonu ve olgun erkek arı oranı, elektromanyetik stresin arı sağlığı için önemli bir risk faktörü olduğunu göstermektedir. Farklı frekans ve güçlerdeki elektromanyetik alanların larva gelişimi, sperm morfolojisi, oksidatif stres belirteçleri ve gen ifadesi profilleri üzerindeki etkilerinin kapsamlı bir şekilde incelenmesi için gelecekteki çalışmalar önerilmektedir.

Keywords

Bal arısı , Elektrikli çit , Elektromanyetik alan , Sperm kalitesi , Erkek arı

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