Workshop

Research taster session for new students on the Bachelor's programs in Agricultural Sciences and Agricultural Biology: What influence does beekeeping have on the diversity of honeybee populations? Using photos and deep learning to achieve results

Tue, October 7, 2025,  9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.  Room to be announced

Thu, Oct. 9, 2025, 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.  Room to be announced

Fri, Oct. 10, 2025, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Poster session, upper floor of the castle

Genetic diversity is considered a prerequisite for the long-term preservation of species. One of our most important tasks is therefore to record and describe this aspect of biodiversity.

The western honey bee (Apis mellifera) is highly valued as a honey producer and pollinator. With numerous geographical variants, the species was originally only native to Western Asia, Europe, and Africa, but in the course of colonialism, the bees spread throughout the world. Global trade in bee colonies and queen bees led to the mixing of previously separate subspecies, and certain forms disappeared from beekeeping.

Remaining wild populations represent a promising reservoir of genetic diversity in honey bees that has been little researched to date. Using a current research collection of wild and managed honey bees from different regions around the world, we will explore questions in the workshop such as how the original forms of honey bees are distributed today and whether wild honey bees differ from “beekeeping bees.” To do this, we will feed a deep learning tool with photos of bee wings and uncover the wealth of data contained in the morphology of Apis mellifera!

Led by: Prof. Dr. Martin Hasselmann, Dr. Patrick L. Kohl

Would you like to participate?