edited by Marco Lodesani and Cecilia Costa 2005 180 pages A5 (L305) This title reports the work of six bee laboratories in Europe who have participated in the Beekeeping and Apis Biodiversity in Europe or BABE project. In the first part Beekeeping for maintaining biodiversity Dr Robin Moritz introduces the most important beneficial insect – the honeybee. A vital part of an ecosystem the honeybee is not a domesticated animal, but is wild, kept by humans in artificial nest sites (hives) which allow access to the honeybees’ resources. Chapters in the first part of the book are: EU research network on the impact of beekeeping on honey diversity Biogeography of European honeybees Selection theory and effective population size Requirements for local population conservation and breeding and Practical aspects of bee breeding for biodiversity aims. Part 2 reports on special projects including a case study of the honeybee conservation on Laesø Island in Denmark.