We haven’t seen a quarter of known bee species since the 1990s
A sweeping analysis shows an overall downward trend in bee diversity worldwide, raising concerns about these crucial pollinators.
ByLiz Langley
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But, it seems, these crucial insects aren’t doing very well. A study published today in the journal
One Earth reveals that in recent decades, the number of bee species reported in the wild has declined globally. The sharpest decrease occurred between 2006 and 2015, with roughly 25 percent fewer species spotted even as sightings by citizen scientists were increasing rapidly.
Halictid bees also called sweat bees for their attraction to our perspiration pollinate important crops such as alfalfa, sunflowers, and cherries. Observations of these tiny metallic fliers have fallen by 17 percent since the 1990s, the study found.
Quarter of bee species haven t been seen in 30 years - research
25 Jan, 2021 01:00 AM
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A leafcutter bee (Megachile sp). Photo / Eduardo E Zattara
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Argentinian researchers have found that, since the 1990s, up to 25 per cent of reported bee species are no longer being reported in global records - despite a large increase in the number of records available.
While this does not mean that these species are all extinct, it might indicate that they have become rare enough that no one is observing them in nature.
The findings appeared on January 22 in the journal, One Earth. The research was conducted at the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET).
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IMAGE: This photo shows a giant Patagonian bumblebee (Bombus dahlbomii). Four decades ago, these bees were abundant in Chile and Argentina, but now they have become an uncommon sight. view more
Credit: Eduardo E. Zattara
Researchers at the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) in Argentina have found that, since the 1990s, up to 25% of reported bee species are no longer being reported in global records, despite a large increase in the number of records available. While this does not mean that these species are all extinct, it might indicate that these species have become rare enough that no one is observing them in nature. The findings appear January 22 in the journal
A quarter of known bee species haven t been seen in more than 20 years
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Researchers say the latest findings on disappearing bee species suggest a significant portion of bee diversity is struggling to cope with a combination of environmental threats. File Photo by KatePhotographer/Shutterstock
Jan. 22 (UPI) There s never been more data on the world s animal and plant populations, but despite the proliferation of public records on species abundance, many known bee species have disappeared from datasets.
According to a new survey, published Friday in the journal One Earth, roughly a quarter of known bee species haven t made an appearance in public records in more than 20 years.
Since the 1990s, up to 25% of reported bee species have disappeared from scientific records, suggesting a global decline in bee diversity.
This photo shows a giant Patagonian bumblebee (Bombus dahlbomii). Four decades ago, these bees were abundant in Chile and Argentina, but now they have become an uncommon sight. (Credit: Eduardo E. Zattara)
(CN) Since the 1990s, up to 25% of reported bee species have disappeared from scientific records, suggesting a global decline in bee diversity, according to new research published on Friday.
A study published in the journal One Earth detailed the loss of bee species.
While their disappearance does not prove whether these species of pollinators are extinct, it indicates that at least some bee species have become too rare to be routinely observed in their natural habitats, say scientists at the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) in Argentina.