Answers to Guide Questions (EXERCISE ON BEES)

1. As per what had been observed, the individuals between larval and pupal stage were most likely
to die. This was based on the values procured on dx whereas on the ninth day of the existence of
the cohort, the highest value of dx was recorded.
2. Based on the survivorship curve, which was graphed using the logNx, the populations had a Type
II curve where the death rate is uniform to all stages.
3. Mortality cannot be prevented in every developmental stage and these particular stages are
accompanied with causes of such. During the stage where the bees are only eggs, the probable
cause of mortality is the insufficient attendance of the worker bees assigned to take care of the
eggs. Meanwhile, the larva and pupa may not reach its maturity due to the destruction of the
comb where those are residing. Lastly, the adult stage, which is divided into three castes namely
the queen, drones and workers, may die on their specific fate. Drones, after mating with the
queen, die immediately since it is only their function on the colony. The worker bees may die on
several ways, generally regarding on fulfilling their duties as getting food for the colony,
maintaining the integrity and comfort of the hive, attending the queen and the eggs and any
other responsibilities.
4. The logarithmic value of Nx is used on the y-axis of the survivorship curve in order to take into
account the intervals between the days of observation. If the Nx will be used directly in
graphing, it will only represent the particular day or developmental stage.
5. Yes, a life table can also be constructed on non-motile living organisms like the plants. The
process is also the same whereas a certain population of plants of the same developmental
stage will be isolated to serve as cohort. These particular individual of plants should be marked
so that the observation will focus on the cohort and not on the possible sprouts that may arise
along and the rest would be the same process.
6. Life table data is important in population studies since it provides information regarding the
probability of surviving any particular year of age [and] the remaining life expectance for
*organisms+ at different ages(PHAST, 2011). Also, most importantly, life tables alarm experts
when a certain population is in danger of extinction or exhibiting sudden depletion.
7. According to Fisher, Miller, and Jamison (2014), the colony is divided into three castes: the
queen, drones, and workers. Each individual classified in every specific caste has an important
role in the colony. First, the queen has the responsibility to lay all the eggs in the colony. There is
only one queen per colony and she is the only one who has a well-developed reproductive organ
so that she can serve her purpose. Second, the drones are the male bees that have the
responsibility to inseminate the queen in order for eggs develop. Lastly, the worker bees are the
female bees that do all the work for the colony. As mentioned earlier, they attend the needs of
the queen, take care of the eggs, build cells, ventilate the hive with the use of their wings, guard
the hive from intruders and forage for pollens, nectars and other needs of the colony. The
survivorship curve may be greatly affected by these duties; for instance is the drones that
immediately die after mating with the queen bee. The worker bees can die due to disturbances
that the nature and other factors may bring. Lastly, the egg produced by the queen may
decrease as it ages.