DOI: 10.5061/dryad.7h44j103h
title: Data from: Shift in distribution of division of labour in chronically stressed honeybee colonies after perturbation

description: The division of labor (DOL) in eusocial insects is crucial for the fitness
 of their colonies. Honeybees encounter various stressors that disrupt
 colony homoestasis, affecting their survival and reproduction. Given the
 importance of DOL for maintaining colony stability, it's essential to
 investigate how chronic stress might alter DOL. We examined whether
 honeybee colonies adjust their DOL in response to high infestation by the
 parasitic mite Varroa destructor. To do this, we monitored colonies under
 chronic stress and those with control colonies from April to December
 2022. During the study, we induced a perturbation (cold shock) to see if
 it caused greater changes in DOL in the chronically stressed colonies. We
 observed that, following the cold shock, the proportion of nurse bees
 decreased in chronically stressed colonies. Foragers showed increased
 activity after the cold shock, but there was no significant difference in
 nectar inflow between treatments, indicating less efficient foraging.
 Additionally, we noted a earlier task switching in chronically stressed
 colonies post-cold shock. These significant changes suggest that chronic
 stress might lead to less effective task allocation. Our research enhances
 the understanding of social resilience and the effects of chronic stress
 on eusocial animals.
description: # Data from: Shift in distribution of division of labour in chronically
 stressed honeybee colonies after perturbation
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.7h44j103h](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.7h44j103h) ## Description of the data and file structure ## Usage notes ### Figure 1 - Foraging activity Foraging activity data, measured with sensors. Each colony was fitted with a weight sensor and a bee counter, collecting daily data on weight and foraging activity at 10-minute intervals throughout 2022. Due to network connectivity issues there are gaps in measurements, across several days.  Includes data on: \* colony: colony id \* day: day of year, 1st of January 2022 is day 1 \* treatment: control (presumably healthy colonies), varroa (high *V. destructor* infested colonies) \* weight: foraging activity estimated from weight sensor \* counter: foraging activity estimated from bee counter ### Figure 2a & Figure 2b - Mite infestation levels Data on mite infestation levels, measured in both classical hives and observation hives.  Figure 2a - In classical hives number of mites was estimated by counting naturally falling mites each month. Figure 2b - In observation hives number of mites was estimated by sampling bees from each colony. Number of mites was determined by mite wash method. Includes data on: \* colony: colony id \* treatment: control (presumably healthy colonies), varroa (high *V. destructor* infested colonies) \* month: month of year \* mite_day: mites per day (Figure 2a) \* MGB: mites per gram bee (Figure 2b) ### Figure 3a & Figure 3b - Colony demography Data on proportion of nurse bees in the colony. Every month from May 2022 till October 2022 cohorts of around 100-200 newly emerged bees was marked from each colony and counted in two week intervals. Proportion of nurses is calculated by dividng number of nurses by total number of cohorts. Includes data on: \* colony: colony id \* treatment: control (presumably healthy colonies), varroa (high *V. destructor* infested colonies) \* count_week: week of year (Figure 3a) \* age: age of cohorts in weeks (Figure 3b) \* mark_week: week of year when cohorts were marked (Figure 3b) \* p_nurse: proportion of nurses ### Figure 4a & Figure 4b - Foraging activity & efficiency Data on foraging activty and efficiency calculated from weight sensors for each colony pre- and post- cold shock. Includes data on: \* colony: colony id \* treatment: control (presumably healthy colonies), varroa (high *V. destructor* infested colonies)\ \* date \* period: precold (before cold shock), postcold (after cold shock) \* f_weight: foraging activity per day (kg) (Figure 4a) \* n_weight: nectar flow per day (kg) (Figure 4b) ### Figure 5a & Figure 5b - Nurses and brood Data on the relation between brood and nurses. Includes data on: \* colony: colony id \* treatment: control (presumably healthy colonies), varroa (high *V. destructor* infested colonies)\ \* date \* colony_nurse: estimated number of nurses in colony \* nurse_load: estimated number of nurses per brood cell ### Figure S1 - Colony size Data on the number of bees per colony. Colony size was estimated by taking a photo from the top of the hive. Includes data on: \* colony: colony id \* treatment: control (presumably healthy colonies), varroa (high *V. destructor* infested colonies)\ \* month: month of year \* week: week of year \* cs: colony size ### Figure S2a & 2b - Weather Data on mean daily average temperature and rainfall pre- and post-cold shock. Includes data on: \* date \* temp: ambient temperature (°C) \* sun: solar irradiance (W/m2) \* week: week of year \* cs: colony size \* period: precold (before cold shock), postcold (after cold shock) ### Figure S3a - Figure 3h - Survival & task switching Data from cohorts in both observation hives and classical hives. Includes data on: \* colony: colony id \* treatment: control (presumably healthy colonies), varroa (high *V. destructor* infested colonies)\ \* day: day of year, 1st of January 2022 is day 1\ \* age: age of bee in days \* bee: bee number \* event: survival analysis 1= death, task switching 1 = switched task \* period: no (before cold shock), yes (after cold shock)