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Updated: May 13, 2026
08:11
Collection and Identification of Pollen from Honey Bee Colonies
Published on: January 19, 2021
Historical changes in northeastern US bee pollinators related to shared ecological traits
Ignasi Bartomeus1, John S Ascher, Jason Gibbs
1Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. nacho.bartomeus@gmail.com
Summary
Long-term data reveal modest declines in native bee species richness, with significant decreases only in the Bombus genus. Shifts in community composition and traits like small dietary breadth are linked to declining bee abundance.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Entomology
Background:
- Pollinators, particularly bees, are vital for terrestrial ecosystems.
- Global concerns exist regarding a pollinator crisis, yet long-term data are scarce.
- Understanding bee population dynamics is crucial for ecosystem health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze long-term changes in a regional bee fauna in the northeastern United States.
- To identify factors influencing bee species richness and relative abundance over 140 years.
- To inform targeted conservation strategies for native bees.
Main Methods:
- Utilized over 30,000 museum records encompassing 438 bee species.
- Analyzed species richness and relative abundance trends over a 140-year period.
- Investigated correlations between ecological traits and changes in abundance.
Main Results:
- Aggregate native bee species richness showed a weak decline; only the genus Bombus experienced significant richness declines.
- Fifty-six percent of native bee species exhibited significant shifts in relative abundance.
- Traits linked to declining abundance included narrow dietary/phenological breadth and large body size.
- Species with lower latitudinal range boundaries showed increasing relative abundance, potentially due to climate change.
Conclusions:
- Despite increased human population density and land-use changes, overall native bee richness declines were modest outside of Bombus.
- Specific ecological traits are associated with reduced relative abundance in bee communities.
- Findings aid in prioritizing conservation efforts to maintain native bee populations and ecosystem services.
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