A project undertaken at LaTrobe University, and supervised by Vanessa Kellermann
Climate change is expected to have major effects on wildlife, including where species can live, how abundant they are, and whether they can survive in the long term. Insects are likely to be especially sensitive because their activity and distribution are strongly shaped by temperature and water availability. However, it remains difficult to predict which species will be most vulnerable as the climate continues to warm.
Many studies have focused on the temperatures that insects can tolerate before heat becomes deadly. While these limits are important, they do not capture the full picture. In reality, rising temperatures may begin to affect species well before they reach life-threatening conditions, by disrupting everyday behaviours such as flying, feeding, and reproduction.
Bees are a particularly important group to study because they play a vital role as pollinators. By transferring pollen between flowers, bees support the reproduction of many native plants and help maintain healthy ecosystems. Bees also contribute greatly to agriculture, where wild native bees provide essential pollination services alongside managed honey bees. Any decline in bee activity or abundance could therefore have serious consequences for both biodiversity and food production.
One of the earliest ways climate change is likely to affect bees is through changes in when and how they forage. Bees rely on flight to collect nectar and pollen, but flight is only possible within a suitable range of temperatures. As conditions become hotter, the period of the day when temperatures are ideal for bee activity may shrink. Shorter foraging windows mean bees may have less time to gather the resources they need to survive and reproduce. This could lead to smaller bee populations over time.
Reduced bee activity may also affect plants. If bees are unable to visit flowers as often, plants may receive less pollination, which can lower their ability to produce seeds and persist in the environment.
This project aims to improve our understanding of how temperature influences bee flight and foraging behaviour. By identifying the temperature conditions under which different bee species remain active, we can better predict how climate warming may affect pollinators and the essential services they provide. This knowledge will be crucial for protecting both native ecosystems and agricultural systems in a changing climate.