AN OBJECT-ORIENTED INTRACOLONIAL AND POPULATION-LEVEL MODEL OF HONEY-BEES BASED ON BEHAVIORS OF EUROPEAN AND AFRICANIZED SUBSPECIES
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abstract
A computer-based simulation model of a population of honey bee colonies, based on the biology of European and African races of Apis mellifera L., is described. The intracolonial dynamics of each colony are simulated each day based on parameters internal and external to the colony. The honey bee population is the collection of all colonies in the model at a particular point in time. Since most of the model development centers on structure and dynamics of the individual colony, the majority of the discussion will be at the intracolonial level. Nevertheless, there is no logical limit to the number of colonies that can be simulated simultaneously. Colonial birth and death processes cause the addition and deletion of colonies to the model as needed. A sample simulation is presented to illustrate both the intracolonial and population level dynamics. 1993.