High temperatures can negatively affect the flight of the bumblebees, found out British scientists. However, the consequences of global warming for populations from moderate latitudes can be positive. An article about a new study is published in the journal Functional Ecology.
It is believed that many pollinators – including bees and bumblebees – are under threat in the case of an impending climate catastrophe. As with most air insects, the air temperature affects the body temperature of the bumblebee, which, in turn, affects flight activity. To find out the temperature range acceptable for the flight of Bombus Terrestris, researchers from the Imperial College of London secured insects of different sizes on a kind of “carousel” and measured the speed and overcome the distance at different temperatures – from 12 to 30 degrees Celsius.
The performance curve built on the basis of this data showed that with an optimal temperature for them at 25-27 degrees Celsius Bumblebee can fly about three kilometers. However, the average length of the flight has decreased to a kilometer if the temperature increased to 35 degrees Celsius. At temperatures at ten degrees Celsius, the flutter distance was only 300 meters. However, during the experiment, the bumblebee was not flown and a hundred meters at temperatures below 15 degrees. In addition, only the individuals who have large sizes were received.
According to scientists, global warming can have a positive effect on bumblebees from moderate latitudes, forcing them more to pollinate. However, for living in lower latitudes, the consequences can be extremely dangerous, the researchers are emphasized.