Bee populations at risk: Climate change threatens further decline
Climate change is causing declines in bee populations, and a new study reveals the dire consequences for bumblebees and other bee species. The study, published in Nature, provides evidence of the direct physiological effects of extreme climate conditions on the long-term population stability of bees. According to the study, bumblebees are experiencing contractions in their dispersal ranges, population declines, and local extinctions due to a lack of physiological tolerance of high temperatures.
Bumblebees are not the only bee species affected by climate change. A separate study published in the same issue of Nature found that most bee species, which are ecologically and evolutionarily different from bumblebees, are also experiencing declines due to climate change. These species are generally small and solitary, and they might respond differently to climate change than bumblebees do.
The study, led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, used a 16-year study of 339 bee species, many of which are solitary, in drylands in the southwestern United States. The researchers used a robust combination of data for natural variation in climate and experimental evidence to predict which species would be negatively affected by climate change. They found that of the 243 species that were sensitive to drought, 46% will experience population declines with continuing climate change.
The study also found that species predicted to persist despite climate change are tolerant not only of heat but also of dry conditions (desiccation). The authors experimentally determined thermal and desiccation tolerances for a subset of 12 bee species and found that those species that are best able to handle both were more resilient to previous climate change.
The study's lead author, Dr. Claire Kremen, said, "Our findings suggest that species with a higher tolerance to heat and desiccation are better able to cope with climate change and that this trait is crucial for their survival."
The two studies highlight the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect bee populations from the devastating impact of climate change. According to Dr. Kremen, "Bee populations are critical for the pollination of crops and wildflowers, and their decline could have serious consequences for food security and biodiversity."
Conservation efforts must include the protection of bee habitats and the creation of climate refugia, which are areas where bees can find shelter from extreme climate conditions. Governments and conservation organizations must also develop strategies to help bee populations adapt to climate change.
The studies' findings emphasize the critical role that bees play in our ecosystem and the urgent need to protect them from the devastating impact of climate change. The loss of bee populations could have serious consequences for food security and biodiversity, and it is our responsibility to take action to protect them.
Reference(s):
Source: <https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00681-w>
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