Habitat changes found to be no deterrent for some Fijian native bees
While extreme weather and habitat changes can spell doom for many native animals, including insects, a different picture has emerged from a new study led by Flinders University. Long-running investigations into Fiji's native bee populations indicate several species of lowland sweat bees (genus Lasioglossum) have evolved and used their individual traits to resist human-driven environmental…
New research published in the Journal of Biogeography reveals that certain native bee species in Fiji have managed to thrive despite habitat changes, defying a global trend of pollinator declines. Long-term studies by Flinders University found that lowland sweat bees, genus Lasioglossum, have evolved and utilized their traits to resist human-driven environmental shifts, enabling them to expand their populations.
PhD researcher Patricia Slattery, lead author, explains that these bees have seen recent population bursts on Viti Levu, independent of broader Pacific climate trends. The study contrasts with concerns about biodiversity loss from human activities, suggesting that anthropogenic changes can actually benefit some tropical insect groups.
While highland species have remained stable, lowland bee populations have surged since the initial settlement of Fiji around 3,000 years ago. Researchers attribute this to the bees' ability to adapt, capitalizing on land clearing and exotic flowering plants for nesting and foraging. However, they emphasize that this is an exception to the global pollinator decline trend, with more isolated highland bee species showing stable numbers.
Written by urgent.news from Phys.org's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
