Distribution modeling of Apis florea Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Apidae) in different climates of Iran

Abstract

The dwarf honey bee (Apis florea Fabricius) is one of the most important pollinator species of tropical and arid regions of Iran and other countries. Considering the importance of dwarf honey bee as an important pollinator in Iran, the current study was carried out to the model spatial distribution of dwarf honey bee and to assess the effect of environmental factors on this species. A potential distribution map was created using the maximum entropy (Maxent) model based on recorded data, vegetation, and eight different climate variables as well as the topography of the regions. According to the obtained results, southern regions of Iran i.e. arid regions with mild winters and hot summers were found to be the most desirable regions for dwarf honey bee distribution. Afterwards, arid regions with cold winters and warm and hot summers provide the most favorable conditions for dwarf honey bee distribution. The obtained results from Jackknife test indicated that under current climate conditions, vegetation and annual mean temperature are the most important factors affecting dwarf honey bee distribution in Iran. In this study, the effect of future climate change on A. florea distribution pattern was investigated. The results indicated that under the climate change scenario (CCCMA, CSIRO), suitable habitats for A. florea will increase towards the central part of the country during 2030 and 2050.