Climate change can have profound impacts on honey bees. The spatial extent, phenology, and quality of the floral environment may be altered, and consequently affect honey production. While many rural industries have attempted to assess the potential impacts of climate change on future production, the Australian honey bee industry has yet to undertake similar studies. This study aims to assess the impacts of climate change and variability on floral resources and their implications for future honey production.

Using geospatial tools, this study will map the deployment and movement of honey bee hives by apiarists at the landscape scale and examine any trends in honey production. Modelling tools (e.g. Bayesian model, MaxEnt, CLIMEX, etc.) will be used to quantify floral resources and landscape factors, and to assess the influence of historic climate patterns on hive deployment and production. Subsequently, analyses of honey production under future climate and land use scenarios will be conducted. With expected outcomes (i.e. maps, modelling tools, and knowledge), this research will enable the development of adaptation strategies.

Professor Armando Apan

• Professor Tek Maraseni

• Institute for Agriculture and the Environment
• International Centre for Applied Climate Sciences
• School of Engineering and Built Environment

• Agriculture, Land and Farm Management
• Ecology
• Environmental Science and Management
• Geomatic Engineering

• Doctor of Philosophy (DPHD)
• Doctor of Philosophy (DPHD)
• Master of Research (MRES)