Table 1 A comparison of different techniques for bee monitoring
Technique | Strengths | Weaknesses | Best use cases |
|---|---|---|---|
Visual observation | Low cost, no setup | Labor-intensive, limited specificity | Insect abundance studies, behavioral/interaction studies |
Traps | Species-specific, often low cost | Often biased, poor spatial and temporal resolutions | Species-specific abundance estimation |
Hive sensors | High temporal resolution, low maintenance | Indirect measure, no individual tracking | Long-term colony monitoring |
Video tracking | High spatial and temporal resolution, 3D tracking, low maintenance | Limited to specific observation area, needs data processing | Long-term and detailed movement tracking near hives |
Mark-recapture | Can track individuals, movement patterns | Labor-intensive, may disturb behavior, specificity often relies on field identification | Population estimates, behavioral studies |
Radar/lidar | Long range, high spatial and temporal resolution | High cost, resolution limitations for small insects, limited specificity | Large-scale migration, large-range dispersal patterns |
Fluorescence-tagged lidar | Can track individuals or specific hives, high spatial and temporal resolution, long range | Requires specialized instrument and initial alignment. Needs data processing | High temporal and spatial resolution monitoring of selected hives/individuals |