Small bees ‘better at surviving warmer conditions than bigger ones’

‘Climate change may reshape bee pollinator communities’ researchers say

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Small bees may be better at surviving in warmer conditions than bigger ones, according to a study.

Scientists in the US monitored at least 154 bee species in a sub-alpine region of the Rocky Mountains over an eight-year period to see how they responded to changes in abiotic conditions based on their life-history traits.

The study, published in The Royal Society Publishing journal, found that comb-building cavity nesters and large-bodied bees declined in relative abundance with increasing temperature.

Meanwhile, small, soil-nesting bees increased.

In addition, bees with narrower diet breadths increased in relative abundance with decreased rainfall, the study said.

The researchers concluded that, taken together "our results show how climate change may reshape bee pollinator communities, with bees with certain traits increasing in abundance and others declining, potentially leading to novel plant–pollinator interactions and changes in plant reproduction.”

In a separate study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists claimed that bees- along with birds - can boost the quality of coffee.

The pair play an essential role in the production of coffee beans that benefits both consumers and farmers, according to new research.

Their positive impact was greater when working together compared to alone, the scientists found.

Bees help with pollination to support coffee bean production, while birds help with pest control.