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Assessing foraging landscape quality in Quebec's commercial beekeeping through remote sensing, machine learning, and
Julien Vadnais1, Liliana Perez1, Nico Coallier2
1Département de Géographie, Université de Montréal, 1375 Avenue Thérèse-Lavoie-Roux, Montréal, QC, Canada.
Journal of Environmental Management
|January 21, 2025
Summary
Honey bee (Apis mellifera) survival depends on foraging landscapes. Forests promote colony health, while cranberry and maize fields may reduce it, highlighting the importance of diverse, abundant vegetation for beekeeping success.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Agricultural Science
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are crucial for agriculture.
- High colony mortality rates are a growing concern globally.
- Inadequate foraging landscapes are implicated in declining honey bee health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess honey bee colony health in relation to landscape quality during commercial pollination.
- To analyze large-scale datasets for landscape-health correlations.
- To identify specific landscape features impacting honey bee survival.
Main Methods:
- Coupled georeferenced colony data (17,743 colonies) with satellite remote sensing data.
- Computed landscape metrics for visited locations.
- Utilized Cox and random survival forests (RSF) models with time-weighted features to predict colony lifespan.
Main Results:
- Colonies in forested areas showed higher survival rates.
- Cranberry- and maize-dominated landscapes were associated with lower survival probabilities.
- Vegetation abundance and landscape diversity (1 km radius) positively influenced survival, especially in sparse vegetation areas.
Conclusions:
- Landscape composition significantly impacts honey bee colony survival.
- Forests and diverse landscapes support healthier honey bee populations.
- Targeted landscape management can mitigate honey bee mortality in agricultural systems.
