California Buckwheat and Africanized Honey Bees

Big Picture (introduction):

In the Arroyo Seco, there are many interactions between native and introduced species.
Some of these interactions entail negative effects, while others encompass mutual benefits. In
this scenario, the Africanized Honey Bee is an introduced specie that can help native plants
perform pollination. As a honey bee with unparalleled abilities, it is able to efficiently and
effectively spread the pollen of our native plants. On the other hand, our native plants, like the
California Buckwheat, are able to return the favor, by providing these bees with nectar. As a
result of the interaction between California Buckwheat and Africanized Honey Bees to perform
pollination, California Buckwheat thrives better in an area where Africanized Honey Bees are
present because this bee concentrates on brood rearing and colony growth, which will lead to
higher rates of fertility for the California Buckwheat, through more pollination.

Ecology- California Buckwheat

California Buckwheat (or Eriogonum fasciculatum) is a native specie to the ever-sunny
state of California. Generally, this plant survives in stony sites, flats, inclines, and washes. In its
habitat, its abiotic requirements include macronutrients to grow, sunlight to execute
photosynthesis, a smidgen of water because it is drought tolerant, and well-drained soil that will
allow it to efficiently and effectively utilize its small supply of water. (Kirkpatrick & Hutchinson,
1980) Apart from these abiotic factors, the California Buckwheat requires biotic components
such as insects that will spread its pollen to move fertilization, fungi to grow in infertile areas,
and native grass, although it is capable of growing in non-native grasses. (Egerton-Warburton &
Allen, 2000) With the aforementioned abiotic and biotic requirements, this plant will be able to
flourish.
Despite being a resilient specie and having a smidgen of requirements, the California
Buckwheat does face an array of threats. In terms of its habitat, this plant is threatened by
wildlife that utilize the buckwheat as a food source. (Schopmeyer, 1974) As a result, this
consumption leads to the ruining of the plants branches and leaves. However, this is not a
substantial threat because the plant is able to resprout. (Rubinoff, 1998) In regards to disease,
this specie is very well known for being able to overcrowd and outcompete other plants. As
mentioned previously, this plant has the nifty ability to grow with fungi and inhabit impoverished
sites. (Egerton-Warburton & Allen, 2000) Overall, the California Buckwheat is a very adaptive
and sustainable specie that can resolve its threats and flourish in a site that yields its abiotic and
biotic requirements.

Ecology- Africanized Honey Bee

Africanized honey bees (AHBs) prefer tropical climates, though hybridization with native
bee species allows them to live in some temperate climates albeit less successfully as they
require year-round foraging to survive. Like the European honey bee (EHB) they usually nest in
large cavities, however unlike traditional bees they are far less selective about hive locations,

and will nest in varying locations, both in synthetic objects and in nature such as holes in the
ground, hanging moss, barbecues, etc (O'Malley 2007). AHBs will out-compete other bee
species under the proper environmental conditions. Their superior strength, speed, and
swarming patterns often force other species out of foraging areas and nest sites. Africanized
bees have even been observed invading and colonizing weaker EHB nests., Moreover, AHBs
utilize takeovers of other Bees, mainly the European counter parts (Apis mellifera), in a two step
process Vergara describes. First is the assessment of resident colony's odor. Second, by
utilizing an unknown mechanism, AHBs enter the hive with no oppression and kills the native
queen bee, successfully taking over a hive (1993).
As versatile this bee may be, AHBs share common predators with other bees, primarily
insects like ants, and bee wolves, and mammals like bears, humans, anteaters, and badgers.
However due to the AHB genetic superiority, they are more capable of warding off threats,
responding 2.4 times faster to alert pheromones and around 30 times faster to visible moving
threats, as well as pursuing predators more aggressively and for farther distances than their
european counterparts(Apis mellifera) (Ojar 2002). This hyper aggression has earned AHB the
moniker, killer bees.
Ojar describes AHBs adaptation as evolutionary as they have adopted to survive and
thrive in unpredictable environments. The colony responds quickly to the changes of availability
of resources, expanding quickly in abundance of resources while absconding when the
resources are low. Although this colloquial name has earned AHB a bad reputation amongst
humans, AHBs superior genetic makeup makes it the most valuable pollinator for the rest of the
members of the ecology.

Hypothesis (Interaction/impact):
As a result of the interaction between California Buckwheat and Africanized Honey Bees
to perform pollination, California Buckwheat thrives better in an area where Africanized Honey
Bees are present because this bee concentrates on brood rearing and colony growth, which will
lead to higher rates of fertility for the California Buckwheat, through more pollination.

Evidence to support our hypothesis:

Here, we present various maps of AHB and California Buckwheat:

As one can see above, Where AHBs are present, California Buckwheats are also
present. The key provided on the image(left) shows that first areas AHB entered, mainly the
years 1994, 1998, 1998 (represented in blue, green and purple) translated into high distribution

of california buckwheat(shown on right). Interestingly, the migration of AHB, represented by

years 2004 and 2005, has correlated to moderate concentration of california buckwheat.
In the third map below, suitable climate for AHBs and distribution of california buckwheat
show a strong positive correlation between the areas.

Future Research
As we researched the interactions between the California Buckwheat and the Africanized
Honey Bee, we discovered that there is little-to-no current research for this interaction. However,
this dearth of research provides a plethora of opportunities for future research. A key-piece of
information that should be studied is the population and density of both species, over a specific
period of time in a region of Southern California. With this information, we can analyze how the
ecology of the California Buckwheat was impacted, after the introduction of the Africanized
Honey Bees in the late 1990s. Also, this information can be utilized to see how the effects of
AHB on California Buckwheat differs from the effects caused by native bees. Through this
analysis, some things to keep in mind are the abiotic and biotic requirements of both species.
Although there may be a trend in the population of these plants, that increase may be derived
from other factors in its environment, rather than pollination from the AHB. Overall, these
opportunities for research should be taken seriously because it can significantly impact the
agriculture industry and allow current researchers to grasp a more in-depth knowledge about
the interactions between the California Buckwheat and the Africanized Honey Bee.

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