Abstract

BRIGHENTI, C.R.G.; BRIGHENTI, D.M.; MIRANDA, Y.S.S. de  and  OLIVEIRA, T.G.S.. Von Mises distribution in the evaluation of apicultural data. Arch. zootec. [online]. 2014, vol.63, n.243, pp.461-471. ISSN 1885-4494.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S0004-05922014000300007.

Circular statistics is applied to data that show a periodic behavior, which characterizes the obtaining of what is called circular data. The existence of a circadian rhythm in the metabolism of Africanized bees can influence the mortality time of workers and the emergence of queen bees, in which case we obtain circular data characterized by the time of occurrence of these events. Bees' visits to flowers of a plant can also provide circular data. The aim of this research was to verify the applicability of circular statistics to apicultural data. data from three experiments were used: 1- bees foraging for field rosemary; 2-emergence of queen bees; 3- the mortality time of workers (considering the experimental setup time at night (19:30) and during the day (7:30)). All data sets used were tested in relation to two distributions: uniform and Von Mises (or circular normal), and fitted to the latter. it was concluded that, when bees are foraging on rosemary, the circular normal model mean time equals 11 h 29 min with large dispersion. There is also a circadian rhythm that regulates the emergence time of queens and the mortality of worker bees. In the experiment on the emergence of queen bees, a confidence interval of 95 % was obtained for the circular mean equal to (4 h 12 min; 9 h 05 min). The mean mortality time in the setup carried out during the day occurs after 4 h 18 min, with longevity estimated at 8 h 37 min. The life expectancy of individuals maintained under the same conditions, except for an experimental setup time at 19 h 30 min, is estimated at 19 h 37 min. Therefore, in order to carry out laboratory experiments on adult bees, it is advisable to include the experimental setup time in the experimental methodology.

Keywords : Apis mellifera; Baccharis; Circadian rhythm; Emergence of queens; Longevity.

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