Since the 1980s, climate change has increasingly altered European bumblebee habitats
Global biodiversity loss is occurring at a rapid pace, driven by multiple human-caused factors, including overexploitation, pollution, invasive species and climate change. Despite increasing research on the impact of climate change on wildlife, few studies have formally attributed observed biodiversity declines to climate change or quantified its contribution relative to other factors.
Since the 1980s, climate change has significantly altered the habitats of European bumblebees, according to a study published in Nature Climate Change. Belgian researchers analyzed over 800,000 georeferenced records of 47 species to quantify the impact of climate change on the ecological suitability of bumblebee habitats. By comparing projections based on historical climate conditions (1901-2019) with a counterfactual climate devoid of long-term warming trends, the researchers found that climate change has already reduced the area suitable for bumblebees by an average of 5%, with local reductions reaching up to 19%.
The study highlights that these impacts have become more pronounced since the 1980s, coinciding with accelerated warming. While higher-altitude gains in regions like the Alps and Boreal zones partially offset losses in lower latitudes, the overall trend indicates a net reduction in suitable habitats. The researchers emphasize that climate mitigation efforts, combined with habitat management and conservation measures, are crucial to counteract further climate-driven changes in bumblebee distributions, which are vital pollinators supporting essential ecosystem services.
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