Stem-Nesting Bees Face Greater Climate Change Risk, Research Suggests
Bee species that nest in plant stems appear to be at a higher short-term risk from increasing temperatures caused by climate change. This contrasts with ground-nesting bee species, which demonstrate a greater ability to evade extreme heat. These findings come from new research conducted by Australian evolutionary ecologists.
New research by Australian evolutionary ecologists indicates varying vulnerabilities among bee species to rising temperatures linked to climate change.
Species that construct their nests within plant stems are identified as facing the greatest short-term risk from increasing heat. Their specific nesting habits may limit their capacity to adapt to environmental changes.
In contrast, bee species that nest in the ground show a better ability to evade extreme heat. This difference in nesting behavior appears to offer a protective advantage against the impacts of rising temperatures.
According to Phys.org, this research highlights how different nesting strategies can influence a species' susceptibility to climate change-induced thermal stress.
