Average hive weights, in kg, by landscape type for a 1km radius around the hives.

<p>Agricultural (n = 49; mean = 45.94): More than 50% of the surrounding 1km landscape composed of agricultural areas; Urban (n = 12; mean = 57.50): More than 50% of the surrounding 1km landscape composed of urban areas; Mixed (n = 10; mean = 39.90): A combination of landscape types surrounding the apiary with no single habitat type representing more than 50% of the total landscape. Means that do not share a letter are statistically significant.</p

Map of Denmark with the location of the weight scales distributed throughout the country.

<p>Darker patches are an indication of major urban areas. Derived from 2002–2003 MODIS satellite data at 1 km resolution [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0132473#pone.0132473.ref043" target="_blank">43</a>].</p

The Capaz scale before installation.

<p>The Capaz hivescale is an H-shaped platform made from aluminium and stainless steel, with the dimensions 420 x 480 x 86 mm (long x wide x high). Data are transmitted by cell phone. The rechargeable battery (12 V) lasts for 200 days. Ambient temperature and humidity are measured by default. Additional equipment is the rain collector and brood temperature sensor. Changes of the standard setup of the scale are done via the computer software. Photo: Capaz.</p

Weight Watching and the Effect of Landscape on Honeybee Colony Productivity: Investigating the Value of Colony Weight Monitoring for the Beekeeping Industry

<div><p>Over the last few decades, a gradual departure away from traditional agricultural practices has resulted in alterations to the composition of the countryside and landscapes across Europe. In the face of such changes, monitoring the development and productivity of honey bee colonies from different sites can give valuable insight on the influence of landscape on their productivity and might point towards future directions for modernized beekeeping practices. Using data on honeybee colony weights provided by electronic scales spread across Denmark, we investigated the effect of the immediate landscape on colony productivity. In order to extract meaningful information, data manipulation was necessary prior to analysis as a result of different management regimes or scales malfunction. Once this was carried out, we were able to show that colonies situated in landscapes composed of more than 50% urban areas were significantly more productive than colonies situated in those with more than 50% agricultural areas or those in mixed areas. As well as exploring some of the potential reasons for the observed differences, we discuss the value of weight monitoring of colonies on a large scale.</p></div

Mean seasonal rainfall in millimeters for the whole of Denmark in the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

<p>Means that do not share a letter are statistically significant. Source: dmi.dk.</p

Average weight in kilogram by year for all hives in the Danish database.

<p>Means that do not share a letter are significantly different.</p

Average monthly change in weight, in kg/day, for the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

<p>Average monthly change in weight, in kg/day, for the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.</p

Average monthly change in weight, in kg/day, by landscape type for a 1km radius circle around the hives.

<p>Average monthly change in weight, in kg/day, by landscape type for a 1km radius circle around the hives.</p

Average monthly hive weights, in kg, by landscape type for a 1km radius circle around the colonies.

<p>Average monthly hive weights, in kg, by landscape type for a 1km radius circle around the colonies.</p