Climate Change Linked to Drop in Bumble Bee Numbers: Study

The rate of population decline is outpacing the ability of the bees to find a new habitat.

Written byLisa Winter

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Increasing overall temperatures due to climate change along with severe spikes of heat are tied to drops in bumble bee numbers in North America and Europe faster than they can find new habitats, according to a study published Thursday (February 6) in Science.

To get a sense of how bees have fared over the last century, the authors turned to bee observations over time cataloged by museums across North America and Europe. These included more than 500,000 sightings of 66 bumble bee species in two time periods: 1901–1974 and 2000–2014. A single observation is defined as evidence of a nearby hive, whether one bee is spotted or the entire hive. The statistical analysis showed that in the latter period, sightings in North America were down 46 percent, while Europe saw losses around 17 percent.

To interpret the data, the team developed a model that compared the ...

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Meet the Author

Lisa Winter
Lisa joined The Scientist in 2017. As social media editor, some of her duties include creating content, managing interactions, and developing strategies for the brand’s social media presence. She also contributes to the News & Opinion section of the website. Lisa holds a degree in Biological Sciences with a concentration in genetics, cell, and developmental biology from Arizona State University and has worked in science communication since 2012.
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