@misc{BundschuhRappelBocketal., author = {Bundschuh, Jana and Rappel, Herbert and Bock, Andreas and Balleisen, Ute and Daiser, Markus and Friedmann, G{\"u}nter and K{\"o}nig, Werner and Miltenberger, Tobias and M{\"u}ller, Manuela and M{\"u}ller, Robert and Poeplau, Norbert and Roosen, Alix and Schlotter, Alexander and Sedlmair, Christian and Weiler, Michael and Thewes, Christoph and Brock, Christopher}, title = {Effects of queen excluders on the colony dynamics of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) under biodynamic management}, series = {Apidologie}, volume = {55}, journal = {Apidologie}, number = {16}, issn = {1297-9678}, doi = {10.1007/s13592-023-01041-9}, abstract = {The evaluation of beekeeping management practices (BMPs) is important for beekeepers worldwide because their choice affects health and survival of managed honeybee (A. mellifera L.) colonies and touches ethical and economic questions. This study focusses on queen excluders, a common hive addition in contemporary beekeeping. Its impacts are controversially discussed but have not been studied scientifically yet. Within a 4-year participatory on-farm experiment, we assessed the effects on colony dynamics in 64 hives in 8 apiaries during one season in Germany using the Liebefeld estimation method. We found no significant deviation for parameters of colony dynamics between hives managed with and without queen excluders. A qualitative decision-making tool (Pugh decision matrix) facilitated concept selection only for specific beekeepers.}, language = {en} }