Exposure scheme separates effects of electric shock and electric field for honey bees, Apis mellifera L.
Mechanisms to explain disturbance of honey bee colonies under a 765-kV, 60-Hz transmission line [electric (E) field = 7 kV/m] fall into two categories: direct bee perception of enhanced in-hive E fields, and perception of shock from induced currents. The same adverse biological effects previously observed in honey bee colonies exposed under a 765-kV transmission line can be reproduced by exposing worker bees to shock or E field within elongated hive entranceways (= tunnels). Exposure to intense E field caused disturbance only if bees were in contact with a conductive substrate. E-field and shock exposure can be separated and precisely defined within tunnels, eliminating dosimetric vagaries that occur when entire hives are exposed to E field.
Bindokas
V P
VP
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago.
Gauger
J R
JR
Greenberg
B
B
D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004560:Electricity / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004597:Electroshock