Over 75% of European bumblebee Species Threatened

Syllabus: GS3/ Conservation

In News

• More than 75% of European bumblebee species may be threatened in the next 40-60 years according to a paper published in Nature. 

Key Points of the Study

• Population decline: Around 38-76% of European bumblebee species currently considered as non-threatened are projected to see their ecologically suitable territory shrink by at least 30% by 2061-2080.
• Key drivers of population loss: Degradation of habitats and alterations of climate due to human activity are identified as key drivers of these estimated population declines.

About Bumblebee

• The bumblebee (Bombus) is a genus of bees considered to be especially important for the pollination of crops in the cold and temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. 

• Bombus species are social bees, with each nest containing a female bee and other male and worker bees.
• The species live and nest in open farmland & fields. It feeds on food plants like sunflowers & clovers.

Way Ahead

• There is a need for conservation measures and policies that mitigate the human impact on important ecosystems.
• Understanding the trajectory of insect populations is important for devising conservation efforts.

Source: TH