http://belgelik.isikun.edu.tr/xmlui/handleiubelgelik/7123 Flora, Technology and Honey: Next Generation Governance Workshop Bildiri Kitabına ait bildirileri içerir. 2026-04-14T07:17:53Z http://belgelik.isikun.edu.tr/xmlui/handleiubelgelik/7135 Chemical hazards in propolis: evaluating the risks of pesticide and heavy metal contamination Alihanoğlu, Selin Propolis is a complex biomaterial synthesized by honeybees (Apis mellifera) through the combination of plant resins, beeswax, and salivary gland enzymes. Historically employed for wound healing, infection prevention, and immune enhancement, it is now recognized as a natural product of considerable pharmacological interest owing to its rich content of bioactive constituents, including phenolic compounds, flavonoids, vitamins, minerals, and essential oils. These components collectively confer antioxidant, antimicrobial, an-ti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. The chemical composition of propolis is highly variable, influenced by its botanical origin, geographical location, climatic condi-tions, and environmental factors. While such variability contributes to its biological versa-tility, propolis harvested from colonies situated in proximity to agricultural areas and in-dustrial zones is often burdened with pesticide and heavy metal residues, thereby raising significant concerns regarding its chemical safety. Consequently, propolis should be re-garded not only as a natural substance with high therapeutic potential but also as a bio-logical indicator of environmental pollution. The purpose of this review is to systemati-cally synthesize current research addressing pesticide and heavy metal contamination in propolis and to evaluate strategies aimed at elimination of these residues, thereby ad-vancing both its safety and its therapeutic applicability. 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z http://belgelik.isikun.edu.tr/xmlui/handleiubelgelik/7134 Electrophysiological methods in insect olfaction: a review of EAG, GC-EAG, SSR and GC-SSR approaches Özsoy, Neslihan; Varol, Ekin; Yücel, Banu Background: Insects rely on olfaction as a key sensory modality regulating reproduction, foraging, host location, and defense. Antennae function as highly sensitive chemosensory organs capable of detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at trace levels, making them valuable for ecological research and biosensor development. Methods: This review examines electrophysiological techniques commonly applied to study insect olfaction, including electroantennography (EAG), gas chromatography–electroantennographic detection (GC-EAG), single sensillum recording (SSR), and gas chromatography–single sensillum recording (GC-SSR). The principles, applications, and recent technological innovations such as MEMS devices, biohybrid sensors, and advanced signal-processing methods are discussed. Results: EAG provides a low-cost method for recording cumulative antennal responses, while GC-EAG couples antennal activity with chemical separation to identify bioactive volatiles. SSR offers high-resolution measurements of individual olfactory receptor neu-rons, and GC-SSR extends this capability to complex odor blends. Together, these ap-proaches reveal complementary aspects of odor coding at both the antennal and sin-gle-neuron levels. Conclusions: Electrophysiological methods are indispensable tools in chemical ecology, pest management, pollination biology, and biosensor development. Future integration with emerging technologies is expected to deepen our understanding of insect olfaction and support sustainable biotechnological applications. 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z http://belgelik.isikun.edu.tr/xmlui/handleiubelgelik/7133 Smart queen bee tracking system: QR code–based digital traceability application in queen production Akıncı, İbrahim; Akdeniz, Gökhan In this study, a QR code–based digital monitoring system was developed to address the limitations of manual record-keeping in queen bee production. The implementation took place at the Apiculture Research Center of the Aegean Agricultural Research Institute, where QR codes were assigned to each mating nucleus and production colony. Data re-lated to queen cell acceptance, emergence, mating observations, oviposition status, feed-ing, and health monitoring were recorded using mobile forms and synchronized via Google Sheets for centralized tracking and analysis. To evaluate user experience, a struc-tured satisfaction survey based on a 5-point Likert scale was conducted with 12 field per-sonnel actively involved in the production process. Compared to traditional methods, the results indicated a 92% increase in traceability, a 78% reduction in operational errors, and an 85% improvement in reporting and team coordination. Additionally, up to 19% fewer queen losses were observed following the system’s deployment. Most participants found the system practical, user-friendly, and time-saving, highlighting the advantages of mo-bile-based digital entry over manual documentation. This application stands out as one of the first practical examples of QR code–based traceability in both breeding and commer-cial queen enterprises. Beyond enhancing operational efficiency, the system supports quality control, record reliability, and sectoral digital transformation. Its future integration with artificial intelligence, cloud-based decision support platforms, and international traceability standards is expected to elevate the digitalization level of apiculture. 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z http://belgelik.isikun.edu.tr/xmlui/handleiubelgelik/7132 Digital twin approaches for honey bee colony health: opportunities, challenges, and future directions Olgun, Tuğçe; Dayıoğlu, Miray Honey bee colonies face increasing threats from parasites, pathogens, pesticides, and cli-mate change, resulting in substantial global losses. Digital Twin (DT) technology, which is widely adopted in manufacturing and increasingly explored in agriculture, offers a dy-namic way to link real-time data with simulation models for prediction and decision support. In this review, we examine the potential of DT approaches tailored to apiculture. While existing tools such as BEEHAVE, Beescape, and HONEYBEE-pDT provide valuable in-sights into specific aspects of colony dynamics or environmental risks, they remain frag-mented, lack real-time data integration, and are often calibrated for non-local conditions, limiting their practical use in regions such as Türkiye. Adapting these frameworks with locally sourced data, IoT technologies, and user-friendly interfaces presents a unique op-portunity to build predictive and regionally relevant decision-support systems. A DT sys-tem for honey bees would integrate biological modules (Varroa mite, Nosema, and virus-es), environmental modules (climate, forage, and pesticides), and performance outputs (honey yield and colony survival). By enabling scenario testing such as untreated Varroa infestations, organic acid treatment schedules, or heat stress conditions, DT frameworks could deliver early warnings and guide sustainable colony management. Türkiye’s position as one of the world’s leading honey producers underscores both the urgency and the potential to pioneer digital twin applications in apiculture. Beyond na-tional relevance, the development of such systems could reduce colony mortality, opti-mize management, and enhance resilience against climate change, while also serving as a transferable model for digital agriculture worldwide. 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z