Bumblebees Feel the Squeeze of Climate Change

A new study shows bee territories are shrinking with warming temperatures, threatening them and the plants they pollinate.

Scientists tracked the locations of 67 species of bumblebees in North America and Europe and discovered a disturbing trend:  The bees' total geographic range is shrinking—and climate change is the prime suspect.

Since the mid-1970s, the bees have retreated by up to 180 miles—roughly the distance from New York to Baltimore—from their southern margin while their northern margin appears to have stayed put. The scientists say the geographical squeeze is more strongly linked to rising temperatures than to either pesticide use or changes in land use, according to a study published this week in the journal Science.

"This is the first study to convincingly demonstrate that climate change is affecting a larger number of bee species over their global distribution," said Leif Richardson, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Vermont.  Richardson is one of the study's 14 authors from 12 different universities and research institutions worldwide.

The researchers warned that if their territory continues to shrink, it could be deadly for the bees.  Previous studies have tied extreme warming events to bee losses––a bad omen for the humans who rely on them to pollinate crops.

Wild bumblebees, more than 200 species of which span the world, play a critical role in supporting plant growth.  The billions of bees spread pollen across different parts of plants, enabling them to reproduce.  Blueberries, apples, peppers, tomatoes, pumpkins and squash are among the fruits and vegetables that rely on these bees.

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