Climate change is a global concern and we are increasingly seeing its effects all around us. The bee is one of the animals that suffer greatly from this phenomenon. According to two studies published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, the consequences are so dire that they disfigure the bodies of these insects.
Scientists analyzed bee samples from across the UK and concluded that males, also known as ‘drones’, are showing asymmetry in their wings as a result of the stress of climate change.
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Says Richard Gill, Professor at Imperial College London and co-author of one of the studies on the topic.
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Insects are the main actors in the pollination process that makes possible the reproduction of many plant species. Therefore, damage to the wings of bees can harm their ability to transfer pollen from one plant to another, affecting entire ecosystems.
A study by University College London concluded that climate change and indiscriminate use of farmland were already responsible for a 49% decrease in the number of insects in many regions of the planet, especially in the hardest-hit areas.
The consequences can also be dire for human life: according to the United Nations, 75% of the top 115 crops depend on animal pollination, including almonds, cherries, cocoa and coffee.
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Anders Ars, a professor at Suffolk University and co-author of one of the studies published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, says the purpose of the project is to understand how bumblebees react to a particular climate change so that we can anticipate future events and help support bee health.
“We hope to be able to predict where and when bumblebees will be most vulnerable, and to take effective protection measures,” says Arce.
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