Study
finds that warmer temperatures push bees to their physiological limits, may
drive local extinction
Date: June 28, 2018
Source: Northwestern University
Summary:
A
new study from Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden has found
that climate change may drive local extinction of mason bees in Arizona and
other naturally warm climates.
In
a two-year, in situ field experiment that altered the temperature of the bees'
nests to simulate a warmer, future climate, 35 percent of bees died in the
first year and 70 percent died in the second year. This is compared to a 1-2
percent mortality rate in the control group.
"The
projected temperatures appear to be pushing this species up against its
physiological limits," said Northwestern's Paul CaraDonna, who led the
research. "This is evidence that we might see local extinction in the
warmer parts of this species' range, which is pretty sobering."
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