Climate change is one of the most hotly debated topics in our world, and while the debate rages on, some of the most important parts of our ecosystem continue to be at risk. While they’re often avoided and swatted at, bumblebees provide a number of benefits to our world’s ecosystem. Unfortunately, changes in the climate are impacting these pollinators, putting multiple parts of the ecosystem at risk. Discover more about how our changing climate is affecting bumblebees today.
Bumblebees are some of the most effective and efficient pollinators, playing an important role not only in our forests but also in the world of agriculture. Because of their unique ability to fly lower and in cooler temperatures than other species of bees, bumblebees can reach more plants than other types of bees, and their unique pollination method allows them to play active roles across multiple types of crops.
Unfortunately, the ongoing changes to the climate are impacting bumblebees at an alarming rate. Due to increasing temperatures, bumblebees, which thrive in cooler climates, are in jeopardy, and the impact could be more far-reaching than you may have realized. Today, discover more about how changes in the climate are putting bumblebees and the plants that they pollinate in harm’s way and what all of that means for humanity.
Why Are Bumblebees So Important?
Bumblebees are considered “essential pollinators,” largely because of the unique process that they use to pollinate. Unlike some other types of bees, bumblebees are “general foresters,” meaning that they don’t have to rely on a certain type of flower. Instead, they can pollinate various types of wildflowers as well as crops such as peppers, tomatoes, and cranberries. While bumblebees don’t rely on certain types of flowers, certain species of flowers rely solely on bumblebees.