Journal Article
Advances and knowledge gaps on climate change impacts on honey bees and beekeeping: A systematic review
Germán Zapata‐Hernández; Martina Gajardo‐Rojas; Matías Calderón‐Seguel; Ariel A. Muñoz; Karen P. Yáñez; Fabrice Requier; Francisco E. Fontúrbel; Pablo I. Ormeño‐Arriagada; Héctor Arrieta
Global Change Biology · Vol. 30, Issue 3 · 2024
Abstract
The Western honey bee Apis mellifera is a managed species that provides diverse hive products and contributing to wild plant pollination, as well as being a critical component of crop pollination systems worldwide. High mortality rates have been reported in different continents attributed to different factors, including pesticides, pests, diseases, and lack of floral resources. Furthermore, climate change has been identified as a potential driver negatively impacting pollinators, but it is still unclear how it could affect honey bee populations. In this context, we carried out a systematic review to synthesize the effects of climate change on honey bees and beekeeping activities. A total of 90 articles were identified, providing insight into potential impacts (negative, neutral, and positive) on honey bees and beekeeping. Interest in climate change's impact on honey bees has increased in the last decade, with studies mainly focusing on honey bee individuals, using empirical and experimental approaches, and performed at short‐spatial (