Bees play an essential role as pollinators of crops and wild plants thereby contributing to biodiversity. Beekeeping is an important economic and agricultural activity. However, beekeepers are faced with numerous external factors, including climate change, intensive agricultural production, the extensive use of pesticides and the high incidence of honey bee diseases. In researches’ work to date, numerous potential factors have been identified that contribute to colony population decline, reduced colony health, and colony losses. This review summarizes the most important factors affecting honey bee colonies and their health. The main causes of colony loss include pests and pathogens, environmental and beekeeping stressors, apiculture practices and pesticide residues. Reducing honey bee colony losses requires an integrated approach that recognises the multifactorial nature of the problem. Coordinated strategies should consider both direct biological threats, such as parasites and pathogens, and indirect influences, such as environmental changes, pesticide exposure and forage quality.
Podnebne spremembe so tu. Posledice bodo nepredvidljive, če ne bomo takoj ukrepali in se pričeli nanje prilagajati tudi na področju čebelarstva. Tradicionalno uveljavljene modele tehnologij, in sicer vzreje čebeljih družin, zdravstvenega varstva itd., bomo najverjetneje morali v določenih segmentih spremeniti in jih prilagoditi tako, da zaradi podnebnih sprememb ne bodo negativno vplivali na v evoluciji razvoja vzpostavljene zakonitosti biologije čebel. Potrebno si bo odgovoriti na številna vprašanja, še najprej pa bo potrebno vse morebitne spremembe proučiti in jih na osnovi trenutnih znanj njihov negativni vpliv na čebele omiliti ali celo preprečiti. Torej tudi na področju čebelarstva potrebujemo strategijo prilagajanja na podnebne spremembe.
The effect of cluster thinning (CT) within the grapevine variety 'Welschriesling' (Vitis vinifera L.) on yield parameters, grape juice parameters and wine parameters was monitored over three consecutive vintages. Cluster thinning was carried out at veraison (BBCH 83 to 85), removing 33 to 53 % of clusters, resulting in yield reductions of 41 %, 30 % and 45 % in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. A significant effect of cluster thinning on wine quality was observed in cooler vintages, i.e. 2017 and 2019, with lower GDD (Growing Degree Days) summation and yield reduction of more than 40 % compared to the control. No effect of grape thinning was observed in a warmer vintage (2018) and with a yield reduction of 30 %. Grape thinning significantly increased concentrations of 3-mercaptohexyl acetate in wines, with trends toward higher 3-mercaptohexan-1-ol also noted in wines from CT treatments compared to the control. Number of clusters/vine, yield/vine, titratable acidity in grape juice and total dry matter in wine were also significantly affected by CT. In years with lower GDD accumulation and with sufficient yield reduction, cluster thinning can be an efficient tool to adjust wine styles already in the vineyard.
Posledice podnebnih sprememb niso vidne samo na kmetijski pridelavi, ampak jih občutimo vsi, ki živimo na območju Pomurja. Kažejo se v občasnih sušnih obdobjih, s pomanjkanjem pitne vode, poplavah, v močnih nalivih s močnim vetrom, točo in s spomladanskimi pozebami. Podnebne spremembe torej postajajo sektorski problem države, ki se vedno bolj odraža na kmetijstvu, gospodarstvu, v zdravju ljudi, oskrbi s pitno vodo, katerih se bo morala lotiti in reševati država. Po statističnih podatkih podnebne spremembe zahtevajo na svetu več življen na leto, kot trenutne vojne, potresi, migracije ljudi, ki so delno tudi povezane s spreminjanjem podnebja.
In animal husbandry, the herd should consist of animals that are well adapted to a particular environment, which allows a safe working environment and the achievement of optimal production and economic results. Animals react differently to both positive and negative factors of the environment. Individual response to novel situations can affect metabolism as well as various physiological systems. A number of biochemical characteristics can be used as markers for assessing temperament. Temperament can also be defined as a combination of characteristics or qualities that form individual distinctive character. In this review article, we present various methods of assessing cattle temperament, firstly, in environments familiar to the animal, such as the barn and milking parlor, secondly, in unfamiliar special rooms or arenas with special equipment and, thirdly, considering other possible effects on the expression of temperament. Measurement of stress markers in saliva, feces, and hair using noninvasive methods has also been described as one of the approaches to assess temperament. Knowledge of cattle temperament allows us to work safely, introduce appropriate adapted breeding technologies, and improve housing conditions, which, consequently, results in improved animal welfare.
