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.
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 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 to 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.”
Blueberry mason bee
This species of mason bee (above) often called the “blueberry mason bee,” is native to the western United States and northern Mexico. This particular type of solitary bee builds nests inside of holes and cracks in dead tree stumps. As a primary pollinator of manzanita shrubs in the wild, this little-studied bee may have a big effect on its ecosystem.
Read more at Northwestern University
Image: This is the type of mason bee (Osmia ribifloris) that Northwestern's Paul CaraDonna studied in the warming experiment. (Credit: Jack Dykinga)
