Impact of the age on early embryonic mortality (EEM) and embryo quality in the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) [Elektronische Ressource] / von Hassan Al-Lawati

Impact of the Age on Early Embryonic Mortality (EEM) and Embryo Quality in the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Dissertation zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades doctor rerum agriculturarum (Dr. rer. agr.) Eingereicht an der Landwirtschaftlich-Gärtnerischen Fakultät der HumboldtUniversität zu Berlin von Herrn Al-Lawati Hassan 09.08.1971 Qatar Präsident der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. C. Markschies Dekan/Dekanin der Landwirtschaftlich-Gärtnerischen Fakultät Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. O. Kaufmann Gutachter: st 1 reviewer: Prof. Dr. agr. habil. Kaspar Bienefeld nd 2 reviewer: Prof. Dr. agr. Kurt-Johannes Peters. Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 12.07.2008 Abstract This study on the honey bee, Apis mellifera, consists of three major parts. The first involves the characteristics of the spermathecal content of old and young honey bee queen. The second examines maternal age effects on embryonic mortality and juvenile development of offspring in the honey bee. The third investigates on the impact of semen age on early embryonic mortality, embryo quality and larvae development in the honey bee. Semen collected from the spermatheca of old queen bees show different sperm movement patterns and slower speed than sperm from the spermathecae of young queens. This ability is possibly related to different enzyme activities and metabolisms found in the spermathecal contents of differently aged queens.