Université Laval
Ph.D. candidate
Supervisor: Valérie Fournier
Pierre Giovenazzo, Université Laval
Start: 2022-01-10

Project

Optimization of lowbush blueberry pollination by honey bees and bumblebees
Quebec is the main producer of lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium) in Canada. Colony rental is the main source of pollination services. However, the recommendations concerning the density of honey bee hives and bumblebee hives to be used are still unclear. The goal of my research is to optimize the pollination services of lowbush blueberries by comparing two honey bee colony densities (2.5 colonies/ha and 5 colonies/ha) and one bumblebee colony density (1.5 multi-hives/ha). The research will be carried out in nine typical blueberry fields in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. Each treatment will be repeated three times. The parameters of pollination quality, the activity level of the foragers and the health of the colonies will be measured. This study will allow the development of a model to estimate the optimal density of bee colonies and to evaluate the pollination efficiency of bumblebee hives.

Keywords

Activité de butinage , Vairimorpha spp, Santé d’abeilles, Qualité de la pollinisation, Mise à fruit, Bombus impatiens