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Bumblebees Face Much Higher Toxic Metal Levels Than Honeybees
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In Short: University of Cambridge researchers found bumblebees carry more heavy metals despite foraging in the same areas as honeybees.
University of Cambridge researchers discovered that bumblebees are exposed to significantly higher levels of toxic metals compared to honeybees, even when both species forage in the same landscapes.
The study, conducted in Cambridgeshire, revealed that bumblebees collected pollen with metal concentrations two to seven times higher than that found in honeybee pollen.
Furthermore, the researchers noted that bumblebee bodies contained roughly three times the concentrations of heavy metals compared to honeybees, indicating substantial variation in pollution exposure between bee species.
These findings suggest that honeybees, which have been traditionally used to assess contamination levels in polluted areas, may not accurately represent the exposure faced by other bee species.
The team worked at apiaries in an area with typically low soil metal contamination, highlighting that even in less polluted environments, bumblebees are disproportionately affected by metal pollution.
Metal exposure can cause a range of issues for bees, including impaired learning and memory, which can make it harder for them to navigate and efficiently gather food, even at low concentrations.
What's still developing
- Metal exposure can also cause problems that fall short of killing bees.
Sources
- SciTechDailylink