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Beekeeper’s perception of risks affecting colony mortality: a pilot survey
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  • Noëmie El Agrebi,
  • Nathalie Steinhauer,
  • Véronique Renault,
  • Dirk de Graaf,
  • Claude Saegerman
Noëmie El Agrebi
Liege University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Nathalie Steinhauer
University of Maryland
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Véronique Renault
University of Liege
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Dirk de Graaf
UGent
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Claude Saegerman
Universtiy of Liege
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Abstract

Understanding hobby beekeepers’ perception of risks affecting bee health and mortality is essential to analyse the reasons for adopting or rejecting good management practices. A perception survey on how beekeepers perceive and manage risks related to climate change, Varroa infestation, management practices, and pesticide exposure was designed and launched online. This unpreceded sociological survey involved 355 beekeepers spread all over Belgium. A two-sample t-test with unequal variances comparing beekeepers with colony mortality rates below or exceeding the acceptable level, i.e. <10% and ≥10%, indicates that beekeepers (N=213), with colony mortality rates <10% generally have greater levels of perceived risk and the benefits of action that lead to increased motivation to act in better ways. The results of this survey highlight the importance of taking socio-economic determinants into account in any risk mitigation strategy associated with bee mortality when dealing with hobby beekeepers.
15 Jul 2020Submitted to Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
15 Jul 2020Submission Checks Completed
15 Jul 2020Assigned to Editor
16 Jul 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
14 Aug 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
14 Aug 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Major
28 Nov 20201st Revision Received
28 Nov 2020Submission Checks Completed
28 Nov 2020Assigned to Editor
01 Dec 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
21 Dec 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
22 Dec 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
15 Jan 20212nd Revision Received
15 Jan 2021Submission Checks Completed
15 Jan 2021Assigned to Editor
16 Jan 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
01 Feb 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
01 Feb 2021Editorial Decision: Accept