title: Long-term effect of temperature on honey yield and honeybee phenology.
abstract: There is growing concern about declines in pollinator species, and more recently reservations have been expressed about mismatch in plant-pollinator synchrony as a consequence of phenological change caused by rising temperatures. Long-term changes in honeybee Apis mellifera phenology may have major consequences for agriculture, especially the pollinator market, as well as for honey production. To date, these aspects have received only modest attention. In the current study, we examine honeybee and beekeeping activity in southern Poland for the period 1965-2010, supplemented by hive yields from a beekeeper in southern UK in the same period. We show that despite negative reports on honeybee condition, and documented climate change, the studied apiary managed to show a marked increase in honey production over the 46 year study period, as did that from the UK. The proportion of the annual yield originating from the first harvest decreased during the study period and was associated with rising temperatures in summer. Honeybee spring phenology showed strong negative relationships with temperature but no overall change through time because temperatures of key early spring months had not increased significantly. In contrast, increasing yields and an increased number of harvests (and hence a later final harvest and longer season) were detected and were related to rising temperatures in late spring and in summer.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71 C, 60-625, Poznań, Poland. alango@up.poznan.pl.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3827-2282
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Langowska
authors.affiliation: , Dziadoszańska 42, 54-152, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zawilak
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71 C, 60-625, Poznań, Poland.|sigma & Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB, UK.
authors.forename: Tim H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Sparks
authors.affiliation: Department of Systematic Zoology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Glazaczow
authors.affiliation: , 11 Cherry Orchard, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP1 3NQ, UK.
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Tomkins
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71 C, 60-625, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tryjanowski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees; D006722:Honey; D011044:Poland; D012621:Seasons; D013696:Temperature
keywords: Climate change; Honey production; Honeybee phenology