Standard use of Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques in honey bee research

Abstract

SummaryGeographic Information Systems (GIS) have been used in various fields and disciplines to summarize and analyse spatial patterns and distributions, for the purpose of understanding how geographic and non-geographic entities interact with each other over space and time.Although honey bees are directly related to and influenced by their local environment, few studies have incorporated honey bee data into GIS for the purposes of gauging these spatial relationships. This paper will briefly discuss some of the types of spatial analyses and GIS methods that have been used for bees, and also, how some methodologies developed in the non-Apis bee domain could be applied to honey bee research. With this paper, we aim to stimulate spatial thinking processes and thus the future use of GIS analyses to better understand the relationships between environmental characteristics and honey bee health and abundance. We will introduce the framework and some important basic concepts of GIS, as well as provide detailed instructions for becoming familiar and comfortable in using the GIS softwares ArcGIS and Quantum GIS (QGIS) (a commercial and free GIS package) for the basics of geospatial research. Uso estándar de las técnicas de Sistemas de InformaciónGeográfica (SIG) en la investigación de la abeja de la miel Resumen Los Sistemas de Información Geográfica (SIG) se han utilizado en diversos campos y disciplinas para resumir y analizar los patrones y distribuciones espaciales, con el fin de entender cómo las entidades geográficas y no geográficas interactúan entre sí en el espacio y en el tiempo. Aunque las abejas melíferas están directamente relacionadas e influidas por su ambiente local, pocos estudios han incluido estos datos en los SIG para analizar estas relaciones espaciales. Este artículo discutirá brevemente algunos de los tipos de análisis espaciales y métodos de SIG que se han utilizado para las abejas, así como también, algunas metodologías desarrolladas en dominios no-Apis que podrían ser aplicadas a la investigación de la abeja de la miel. El objetivo de este trabajo es fomentar los procesos de pensamiento espacial y por lo tanto el futuro uso de los análisis SIG para entender mejor las relaciones entre las características ambientales con la salud de las abejas melíferas y con la abundancia de estas. Vamos a introducir el marco y algunos conceptos básicos importantes de los SIG, así como proporcionar instrucciones detalladas para familiarizar y facilitar el uso de los programas SIG, ArcGIS y Quantum GIS (QGIS) (un paquete SIG comercial y libre) para los fundamentos de la investigación geoespacial.

Simple Rules for an Efficient Use of Geographic Information Systems in Molecular Ecology

“…The newly projected layer will then be automatically loaded to the project. See Rogers and Staub (2013) for a more extensive review of the basic tasks in QGIS.…”

“…Another review by provided guidelines for GIS use in livestock genetics and enumerate the advantages of integrating data in a GIS environment. More recently, Rogers and Staub (2013) outlined spatial analyses and GIS methods in honey bees research. Their review is not specific to bees but instead aim to intensify the exploration of the spatial component of studies in ecology and related disciplines.…”

Honey Characterization Based on Physicochemical Parameters using GIS Techniques: A Case Study in Selected States of Northern India

“…Due to predominance of mustard flora in Rajasthan, it was observed that mustard honey had lower amount of sucrose compare to other floral honeys. After comparing three states, it was observed that sucrose percentage varied between 0.45% to 2% with small number of samples falls between 2% to 3% of sucrose in all three states [42]. The lower percentage of sucrose was in Rajasthan followed by Punjab.…”

A web-based application for beekeepers to visualise patterns of growth in floral resources using MODIS data

“…The risks these declines pose to agriculture requires a strong focus on improving management of the industry. Due to the close relationship between honey bees and their surroundings there is scope to exploit the value of geospatial information through the use of geographic information systems (Rogers and Staub, 2013).…”