The Bee All and End All?

Over an 8 year period, US scientists trapped and studied more than 20,000 bees in a sub-Alpine region of the Rocky Mountains (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/apr/21/climate-crisis-smaller-bees-bumblebees-study). That sub-Alpine region, appeared 'particularly vulnerable to climate change', evidencing increasing Spring temperatures and earlier snow melts. Over the study period, larger-bodied, comb-building, cavity nesting species declined, whereas smaller, soil-nesting bees increased their numbers. The larger-bodied bees (like the familiar bumblebees) are simply less heat-tolerant. The study suggests the climate crisis will favour small-bodied bees, at the expense of larger species. This is likely to result in a 'cascading' effect on plant pollination. Entire ecosystems may be changed.