https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/925449

18-AUG-2021

Peer-Reviewed Publication

IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDONPrintEmail App

Rising temperatures could help some northern-latitude bees fly better, but more frequent extreme weather events could push them past their limits.

Bees’ flight performance affects their ability to pollinate plants – a crucial service for many of our crops. Now, researchers from Imperial College London have measured the relationship between bumblebee flight performance and surrounding temperature.

Measuring the motivation of bumblebees to fly and their flight endurance, the team found performance rose rapidly from the lower tested limit of 12^oC and peaked between 25-27°C. Beyond this, however, they found performance started to decline.

Their results indicate that whilst bumblebees found in more northern latitudes may see benefits to flight performance under future climate warming, populations in southern latitudes, where temperatures above 27^o