Decoding the impacts of space and time on honey bees: GIS based fuzzy AHP and fuzzy overlay to assess land suitability for apiary sites in Queensland, Australia

Abstract

The apiary industry plays a crucial role in global food production. However, many studies worldwide have never considered seasonal variation when locating suitable areas for apiaries. This study assessed the land suitability for apiaries in southern Queensland, Australia with respect to spatial and temporal variations using GIS-based fuzzy AHP and fuzzy overlay techniques. Suitability maps were generated using eleven criteria: regional ecosystems, land cover, land use, slope, aspect, elevation, distance to water, distance to roads, rainfall, temperature, and solar radiation. In spring, as revealed by fuzzy AHP, the area is largely moderately suitable (67.78%) while according to fuzzy overlay the area is mostly marginally and moderately suitable (69.44%). Almost similar trend is observed in the remaining seasons for the fuzzy AHP. Fuzzy overlay on the other hand, exhibits a constant trend of not suitable, marginally suitable and moderately suitable with almost equal percentages of around 30% during summer, autumn and winter. Fuzzy AHP, with validity ratings from 60% to 70% from all seasons, outperforms fuzzy overlay with 80% for spring but less than 60% in the other seasons.The findings can aid sustainable apiary management by mapping suitable areas for apiary sites in four different seasons.