bumblebees could be wiped out by global warming - here's why › 2016 › 01 › ... ·...

Bumblebees could be wiped out by globalwarming - here's whyBuzz, buzz, buzz… SILENCE. That’s what you get if you warm the planet!

Last updated: 10 July 2015, 09:15 BST

The summertime buzz of everyone’s favourite fuzzy bee could be silenced foreverunless global warming slows down.

Scientists are warning that urgent action needs to be taken to save bumblebees, afternew evidence has shown warmer temperatures are having a devastating effect on thepollinating fuzzballs.

Why are bumblebees particularly at risk?

(Nick Ansell/PA)

A study of 67 species has shown that, unlike other insects such as butterflies,bumblebees are not migrating further north in search of cooler places to live.

Instead, their range areas are being squeezed and their populations dwindling, sayexperts.

What’s been happening to bumblebees recently?

(Frank Augstein/AP)

Over the past 110 years bumblebees have lost about 185 miles (298km) from thesouthern edge of their living space in Europe and North America.

Southern bee populations are disappearing as conditions become too warm for them,but there is no corresponding shift northwards. However, the northern boundary of thebees’ territory is not moving.

That’s why the squeeze is happening.

How has this been linked to climate change?

(Jens Meyer/AP)

A strong correlation was found between what was happening to the bees and climatechange.

Lead scientist Professor Jeremy Kerr, from the University of Ottawa in Canada, said:“Global warming has trapped bumblebees in a kind of climate vice. The result isdramatic losses of bumblebee species from the hottest areas across two continents.

“For species that evolved under cool conditions, like bumblebees, global warming

might be the kind of threat that causes many of them to disappear for good.”

Are we sure it’s not something else?

(Mark Moran/AP)

The scientists looked at factors besides climate change that might have had an impacton the bees, including land use and pesticides. None was found to be relevant to thebumblebee range losses.

“Bumblebee disappearances from warm, southern areas are just as likely when there is

no pesticide use and little agriculture,” said Prof Kerr. “But we know that increasinglyfrequent weather extremes, like heatwaves, can hit bumblebee species hard, andclimate change poses threats that are already being felt.”

(Jim Mone/AP)

The threat does come from a variety of causes, as Paul de Zylva, senior naturecampaigner at Friends of the Earth, pointed out: “Bumblebees are already underpressure from loss of habitats and use of pesticides.

“Add in the havoc we’re facing unless we curb the effects of climate change, and thesevital creatures which pollinate our crops and maintain a healthy, functioning naturalworld are severely under the cosh across continents.”

Why are the bees so bad at dealing with temperaturechange?

(Neil Squires/PA)

Bumblebees may be unusually vulnerable to climate change because, unlike manyother insects with tropical origins, they evolved in the “Palearctic” ecozone whichencompasses Europe, northern Asia and northern Africa.

For this reason they may not be so able to adapt to warmer temperatures.

How does this affect the human race?

(Martin Meissner/AP)

A selfish question, but worth answering if it spurs people to action. Basically it’s aboutthe pollination of some of our most popular plants.

Dr Leif Richardson, from the University of Vermont, said: “These findings could spelltrouble for many plants, including some crops like blueberries that depend onbumblebees for pollination. Bumblebees are crucial to our natural ecosystems.”

How can we save the bees?

(TPG/AP)

It may be necessary to help bumblebees establish new colonies further north byphysically moving them, say the researchers.

So-called “assisted migration” is controversial among conservationists. But the idea isgaining support as a last resort in a warming world.

One hopeful note is that, while bumblebees were not extending the northern end oftheir range, some were heading for the hills and cooler, higher altitudes.

However, Dr Richardson added: “Moving up-slope doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve

lost area there yet, but eventually they may simply run out of hill.”

(Frank Augstein/AP)

Scientific consensus is that governments need to up their game on climate changebefore the bees have nowhere left to go.

Findings from the research are reported in the journal Science.