Migration PatternsThe US. is about 1.5 degrees warmer than in the 1900s. As temperatures increase, many plant and animals in North America have shifted northwards, including the habitats of bees. For other plants and animals, the northern and southern boundaries of their habitats have moved north, but for bees, only the southern boundary has moved north due to their temperature sensitivities. This means there are more bees concentrated in a smaller area, which provides more competition with fewer resources for that populous. With more competition the populous cannot thrive leading to greater rates of hive death.
Development |
Beehives need to maintain a temperature of 93 degrees Fahrenheit by eating honey, moving around, and generating heat. If it is warm enough outside for the beehive to stay at 93 degrees, then they start laying eggs and the eggs grow into adults within about 3 weeks. However, if there is a single cold night within the 3 week gestation period, the eggs that cannot be kept warm will die, and the gestation will have to start over.
Due to climate change, winter ends earlier causing flowers to bloom earlier in the year. With increasing temperature issues within hives, there aren’t bees around to pollinate the early blooming flowers. When bees do emerge, there aren't enough flowers left for them to pollinate.
Due to climate change, winter ends earlier causing flowers to bloom earlier in the year. With increasing temperature issues within hives, there aren’t bees around to pollinate the early blooming flowers. When bees do emerge, there aren't enough flowers left for them to pollinate.
General Bee Survival
Though bees can easily move from location to location, research suggests the migration may not have occurred because bees have trouble setting up a home in a new place. When bees haven't migrated as they should they can’t adjust as time goes on. Assisted migration may help diminish the threat to bees—a practice where bees are picked up and moved into new “safe havens.” But researchers warn that this is not an end-all, be-all solution, and that humans need to handle climate change more comprehensively to truly save the bees.