Scientists' warning to humanity on insect extinctions

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 242, P. 108426 - 108426

Published: Feb. 1, 2020

Here we build on the manifesto 'World Scientists' Warning to Humanity, issued by Alliance of World Scientists. As a group conservation biologists deeply concerned about decline insect populations, here review what know drivers extinctions, their consequences, and how extinctions can negatively impact humanity. We are causing driving habitat loss, degradation, fragmentation, use polluting harmful substances, spread invasive species, global climate change, direct overexploitation, co-extinction species dependent other species. With lose much more than abundance biomass insects, diversity across space time with consequent homogenization, large parts tree life, unique ecological functions traits, fundamental extensive networks biotic interactions. Such losses lead key ecosystem services which humanity depends. From pollination decomposition, being resources for new medicines, quality indication many others, insects provide essential irreplaceable services. appeal urgent action close knowledge gaps curb extinctions. An investment in research programs that generate local, regional strategies counter this trend is essential. Solutions available implementable, but needed now match our intentions.

Language: Английский

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Recent and future declines of a historically widespread pollinator linked to climate, land cover, and pesticides

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 120(5)

Published: Jan. 23, 2023

The acute decline in global biodiversity includes not only the loss of rare species, but also rapid collapse common species across many different taxa. pollinating insects is particular concern because ecological and economic values these provide. western bumble bee ( Bombus occidentalis ) was once North America, this has become increasingly through much its range. To understand potential mechanisms driving declines, we used Bayesian occupancy models to investigate effects climate land cover from 1998 2020, pesticide use 2008 2014, projected expected under three future scenarios. Using 14,457 surveys 2.8 million km 2 United States, found strong negative relationships between increasing temperature drought on identified neonicotinoids as pesticides greatest influence our study region. mean predicted declined by 57% ranging 15 83% declines 16 ecoregions. Even most optimistic scenario, continued nearly half ecoregions 2050s 93% severe scenario all This assessment underscores tenuous B. demonstrates scale stressors likely contributing related pollinator throughout globe. Scaled-up, international species-monitoring schemes improved integration data formal community science will substantively improve understanding population trends.

Language: Английский

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The new annotated checklist of the wild bees of Europe (Hymenoptera: Anthophila)

Zootaxa, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 5327(1), P. 1 - 147

Published: Aug. 10, 2023

At a time when nature conservation has become essential to ensure the long-term sustainability of our environment, it is widely acknowledged that actions must be implemented within solid taxonomic framework. In preparation for upcoming update IUCN Red List, we here European checklist wild bees (sensu geographical framework). The original checklist, published in 2014, was revised first 2017. present revision, add one genus, four subgenera and 67 species recently described, 40 newly recorded since latest revision (including two are not native Europe), 26 overlooked previous checklists 63 synonymies. We provide records eight previously unknown continent and, as acts, three new synonyms, consider names nomina nuda, ten dubia, inquirenda, synonymize exclude from checklist. Around hundred other changes clarifications also included discussed. work revises total number genera Europe 77 2,138. addition specifying necessary forthcoming List bees, discuss sampling biases characterise research on bee fauna highlight growing importance range expansions invasions.

Language: Английский

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Genus-Wide Characterization of Bumblebee Genomes Provides Insights into Their Evolution and Variation in Ecological and Behavioral Traits

Molecular Biology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 38(2), P. 486 - 501

Published: Sept. 17, 2020

Bumblebees are a diverse group of globally important pollinators in natural ecosystems and for agricultural food production. With both eusocial solitary life-cycle phases, some social parasite species, they especially interesting models to understand evolution, behavior, ecology. Reports many species decline point pathogen transmission, habitat loss, pesticide usage, global climate change, as interconnected causes. These threats bumblebee diversity make our reliance on handful well-studied pollination particularly precarious. To broadly sample genomic phenotypic diversity, we de novo sequenced assembled the genomes 17 representing all 15 subgenera, producing first genus-wide quantification genetic variation potentially underlying key ecological behavioral traits. The phylogeny resolves subgenera relationships, whereas incomplete lineage sorting likely drives high levels gene tree discordance. Five chromosome-level assemblies show stable 18-chromosome karyotype, with major rearrangements creating 25 chromosomes parasites. Differential transposable element activity changes genome sizes, putative domestications repetitive sequences influencing coding regulatory potential. Dynamically evolving families signatures positive selection processes linked foraging, diet metabolism, immunity detoxification, well adaptations life at altitudes. Our study reveals how genes have evolved across Bombus identifies variations traits these pollinators.

Language: Английский

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Bumblebee resilience to climate change, through plastic and adaptive responses

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 27(18), P. 4223 - 4237

Published: June 12, 2021

Abstract Bumblebees are ubiquitous, cold‐adapted eusocial bees found worldwide from subarctic to tropical regions of the world. They key pollinators in most temperate and boreal ecosystems, both wild managed populations significant contributors agricultural pollination services. Despite their broad ecological niche at genus level, bumblebee species threatened by climate change, particularly rising average temperatures, intensifying seasonality increasing frequency extreme weather events. While some temperature extremes may be offset individual or colony level through regulation, bumblebees expected exhibit specific plastic responses, selection various traits, and/or range contractions under even mildest change. In this review, we provide an in‐depth up‐to‐date review on ways which overcome threats associated with current future global We use examples relevant fields physiology, morphology, behaviour, phenology, dispersal illustrate discuss contours new theoretical framework. Furthermore, speculate extent adaptive responses change influenced bumblebees’ capacity disperse track suitable conditions. Closing knowledge gap improving our understanding adaptability avoidance behaviour different climatic circumstances will necessary improve response models. These models essential make correct predictions vulnerability face human‐induced environmental changes unfold appropriate conservation strategies.

Language: Английский

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The Importance of Forests in Bumble Bee Biology and Conservation

BioScience, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 71(12), P. 1234 - 1248

Published: Oct. 22, 2021

Abstract Declines of many bumble bee species have raised concerns because their importance as pollinators and potential harbingers declines among other insect taxa. At present, conservation is predominantly focused on midsummer flower restoration in open habitats. However, a growing body evidence suggests that forests may play an important role life history. Compared with habitats, woody edges provide food resources during phenologically distinct periods, are often preferred nesting overwintering can offer favorable abiotic conditions changing climate. Future research efforts needed order to anticipate how ongoing changes forests, such overbrowsing by deer, plant invasions, shifting canopy demographics, affect the suitability these habitats for bees. Forested increasingly appreciated cycles bees, they deserve greater attention from those who wish understand populations aid conservation.

Language: Английский

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Pollutants and Their Interaction with Diseases of Social Hymenoptera

Insects, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 11(3), P. 153 - 153

Published: March 1, 2020

Many insect species, including social insects, are currently declining in abundance and diversity. Pollutants such as pesticides, heavy metals, or airborne fine particulate matter from agricultural industrial sources among the factors driving this decline. While these pollutants can have direct detrimental effects, they also result negative interactive effects when insects simultaneously exposed to multiple stressors. For example, sublethal of increase disease susceptibility thereby jeopardize their survival. Here we review how interact with physiology especially insects' immune system. We then give an overview current knowledge pathogens parasites. pesticide exposure on interactions been relatively well studied, other pollutants, metals soil combustion, vehicular transport, agriculture, coal mining still largely unknown. therefore provide urgently needed order mitigate decline insects.

Language: Английский

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Assessing the potential for deep learning and computer vision to identify bumble bee species from images

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: April 7, 2021

Abstract Pollinators are undergoing a global decline. Although vital to pollinator conservation and ecological research, species-level identification is expensive, time consuming, requires specialized taxonomic training. However, deep learning computer vision providing ways open this methodological bottleneck through automated from images. Focusing on bumble bees, we compare four convolutional neural network classification models evaluate prediction speed, accuracy, the potential of technology for bee identification. We gathered over 89,000 images representing 36 species in North America, train ResNet, Wide InceptionV3, MnasNet models. Among these models, InceptionV3 presented good balance accuracy (91.6%) average speed (3.34 ms). Species-level error rates were generally smaller represented by more training also depended level morphological variability among individuals within similarity other species. Continued development automatic monitoring has be transformative fields ecology conservation. To end, present BeeMachine, web application that allows anyone use our model identify bees their own

Language: Английский

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Analysis of honey bee exposure to multiple pesticide residues in the hive environment

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 805, P. 150292 - 150292

Published: Sept. 12, 2021

Language: Английский

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The gut microbiota of bumblebees

Insectes Sociaux, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 68(4), P. 287 - 301

Published: Sept. 29, 2021

Language: Английский

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