Honey Bee Biology, Health and Conservation in a Changing World: 2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

Following the success of the previous Special Issue, “Biology and Conservation of Honey Bees”, we are pleased to announce the launch of its second edition, entitled “Honey Bee Biology, Health and Conservation in a Changing World: 2nd Edition”.

Honey bees (Apis spp.) are among the most important pollinators in natural and agricultural ecosystems, contributing substantially to crop production, plant reproduction, biodiversity conservation and global food security. At the same time, honey bees occupy a distinctive position as both key pollinators and, in many regions, intensively managed livestock. Their conservation, therefore, requires a broad and carefully balanced perspective that extends beyond the protection of managed colonies alone.

In recent decades, honey bee populations have faced increasing pressures from multiple interacting stressors, including habitat loss, pesticide exposure, climate change, pathogens, parasites, nutritional stress and changes in landscape quality. These challenges have raised global concern and highlighted the need for continued research into honey bee biology, health and conservation. Importantly, honey bee conservation also involves the preservation of genetic diversity, native lineages, locally adapted populations and wild or feral colonies. It further requires consideration of disease ecology, host–pathogen and host–parasite interactions, management practices and the ecological relationships between honey bees and wild pollinators within wider pollinator communities.

This Special Issue welcomes original research articles and review papers addressing current advances in honey bee biology, behavior, genetics, physiology, health, ecology and conservation. Topics related to population genetics, native subspecies and lineages, wild and feral honey bee populations, environmental stress responses, host–pathogen interactions, landscape ecology, pollinator community interactions, population decline and sustainable management strategies are especially encouraged. By bringing together studies from different disciplines, this Special Issue aims to provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying honey bee health and decline, while supporting the development of effective approaches for their protection and conservation within the broader context of pollinator conservation.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Bin Han
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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