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Climate change causing bumblebee habitat loss, say scientists Climate change causing bumblebee habitat loss, say scientists
(about 4 hours later)
Climate change caused by emissions from cars, factories and power plants is squeezing the habitats suitable for bumblebees to live in across Europe and North America, scientists have discovered.Climate change caused by emissions from cars, factories and power plants is squeezing the habitats suitable for bumblebees to live in across Europe and North America, scientists have discovered.
As temperatures have risen over the past 110 years, the bees are being killed off by increased heat in their southern habitats. But to the surprise of researchers, they are failing to move north to cooler climes, unlike other species.As temperatures have risen over the past 110 years, the bees are being killed off by increased heat in their southern habitats. But to the surprise of researchers, they are failing to move north to cooler climes, unlike other species.
The finding matters because of the vital job the bees do as pollinators for wild flowers and other plants. Scientists consider the bees to be a “keystone species” crucial to the health of the ecological communities they are part of. If they disappear there will be knock on effects for a wide range of other species.The finding matters because of the vital job the bees do as pollinators for wild flowers and other plants. Scientists consider the bees to be a “keystone species” crucial to the health of the ecological communities they are part of. If they disappear there will be knock on effects for a wide range of other species.
They are also critical for agriculture. The bumblebees are active in spring, summer and autumn, and help to pollinate crops such as blueberries, clover and cherries. Tomatoes in particular rely on bumblebees because they, unlike honeybees, perform buzz pollination, where their vibrations on the fruit shakes loose its pollen. They are also critical for agriculture. The bumblebees are active in spring, summer and autumn, and help to pollinate crops such as blueberries, clover and cherries. Tomatoes in particular rely on bumblebees because they, unlike honeybees, perform buzz pollination, where their vibrations on the plant shakes loose its pollen.
Related: More than 14% of England's honeybee colonies died over winterRelated: More than 14% of England's honeybee colonies died over winter
The research is the first time that scientists have analysed what is happening to bees’ geographical ranges under climate change, and comes on top of substantial declines in bumblebees over the past few decades ascribed to a cocktail of factors including habitat loss, pesticide use and parasites.The research is the first time that scientists have analysed what is happening to bees’ geographical ranges under climate change, and comes on top of substantial declines in bumblebees over the past few decades ascribed to a cocktail of factors including habitat loss, pesticide use and parasites.
Jeremy Kerr, a professor of biology at the University of Ottawa and lead author of the new research, said that given how other species have responded to warmer temperatures by moving northward, his team was “shocked” bees had not done the same.Jeremy Kerr, a professor of biology at the University of Ottawa and lead author of the new research, said that given how other species have responded to warmer temperatures by moving northward, his team was “shocked” bees had not done the same.
“We thought bumblebees would do that. Our results show very clearly that that generally is not what they’re doing at all, they’re not expanding their range, unlike butterflies.” The result, his study says, is that the bees’ range is being compressed across continents.“We thought bumblebees would do that. Our results show very clearly that that generally is not what they’re doing at all, they’re not expanding their range, unlike butterflies.” The result, his study says, is that the bees’ range is being compressed across continents.
Bumblebees evolved under a cool climate, unlike butterflies which have a common ancestor in the tropics, and are relatively intolerant of heat. Extreme temperatures of 43C (109F) will kill them outright, while prolonged heatwaves can dry up the food sources they rely on.Bumblebees evolved under a cool climate, unlike butterflies which have a common ancestor in the tropics, and are relatively intolerant of heat. Extreme temperatures of 43C (109F) will kill them outright, while prolonged heatwaves can dry up the food sources they rely on.
The study, published in the journal Science on Thursday, examined natural history records dating back 110 years - including around 423,000 observations for 67 European and and North American bumblebee species.The study, published in the journal Science on Thursday, examined natural history records dating back 110 years - including around 423,000 observations for 67 European and and North American bumblebee species.
The team checked to see if the bees’ movements were affected by land use or pesticide use, but found they were not. The trends were consistent in places where, as Kerr put it, “there is lots of natural habitat and in places where there is nothing but corn fields” and consistent across continents.The team checked to see if the bees’ movements were affected by land use or pesticide use, but found they were not. The trends were consistent in places where, as Kerr put it, “there is lots of natural habitat and in places where there is nothing but corn fields” and consistent across continents.
Kerr said he did not know why the bees are failing to move. “There is a mystery here that we need to solve quickly,” he said.Kerr said he did not know why the bees are failing to move. “There is a mystery here that we need to solve quickly,” he said.
Dave Goulson, professor of biology and bee expert at the University of Sussex, who was not involved in the study, said: “Maybe the habitat further north is not suitable for them, perhaps because the plants they need haven’t themselves moved north. I’m just speculating, because we don’t really know.”Dave Goulson, professor of biology and bee expert at the University of Sussex, who was not involved in the study, said: “Maybe the habitat further north is not suitable for them, perhaps because the plants they need haven’t themselves moved north. I’m just speculating, because we don’t really know.”
Other scientists said the paper was important, robust, and the most comprehensive of its kind. They said the next step was to understand why the bees were not moving.Other scientists said the paper was important, robust, and the most comprehensive of its kind. They said the next step was to understand why the bees were not moving.
Professor Nigel Raine at the University of Guelph in Canada, said: “Bumblebees are critical pollinators of many crops and wild flowers, so it is very concerning that they are struggling to adapt to climate change around the world.”Professor Nigel Raine at the University of Guelph in Canada, said: “Bumblebees are critical pollinators of many crops and wild flowers, so it is very concerning that they are struggling to adapt to climate change around the world.”
Goulson said the reduction in bumblebees’ range because of climate change was particularly concerning because of the other stresses they already face. “It’s pretty depressing really because we know bees have a whole swathe of other problems. We might have anticipated this one coming but it clearly adds to their woes, and it’s pretty difficult to tackle, there’s no simple solution.Goulson said the reduction in bumblebees’ range because of climate change was particularly concerning because of the other stresses they already face. “It’s pretty depressing really because we know bees have a whole swathe of other problems. We might have anticipated this one coming but it clearly adds to their woes, and it’s pretty difficult to tackle, there’s no simple solution.
“We all know the issues with climate change and the difficulties governments face in trying to tackle it.”“We all know the issues with climate change and the difficulties governments face in trying to tackle it.”
Kerr said that there was already a huge body of evidence underpinning the science of climate change, so it was unlikely his research would be the “straw that breaks the intransigence” when nearly 200 countries meet at a UN climate summit in Paris later this year in an attempt to reach a new deal on emissions.Kerr said that there was already a huge body of evidence underpinning the science of climate change, so it was unlikely his research would be the “straw that breaks the intransigence” when nearly 200 countries meet at a UN climate summit in Paris later this year in an attempt to reach a new deal on emissions.
But he added: “Bees capture the public’s imagination, and maybe that will help governments to act.”But he added: “Bees capture the public’s imagination, and maybe that will help governments to act.”
The researchers suggested that one potential way to mitigate the bees’ reduced range would be to experiment with relocating bumblebee populations northwards, as has been done before with butterflies and plants.The researchers suggested that one potential way to mitigate the bees’ reduced range would be to experiment with relocating bumblebee populations northwards, as has been done before with butterflies and plants.
But Kerr admitted there would be ethical considerations, such as whether that would cause problems for other bees, and Goulson said he was not convinced it would work. “I think they could probably get there on their own if there was somewhere good to live,” he said.But Kerr admitted there would be ethical considerations, such as whether that would cause problems for other bees, and Goulson said he was not convinced it would work. “I think they could probably get there on their own if there was somewhere good to live,” he said.