Plants that reproduce exclusively by self-pollination arise from populations with extremely low diversity to begin with. The Kobe University research not only adds a facet to possible evolutionary strategies, but also lends weight to Darwin’s suspicion that this strategy might be a path to extinction. Charles Darwin once remarked, “It is hardly an exaggeration to…
Warzones, microplastics and light pollution pose serious new risks to bees and other pollinators over the next decade, according to a landmark report on today’s World Bee Day. The report from Bee:wild, a new science-led global campaign to save pollinators, identifies the top 12 emerging threats that could accelerate pollinator losses within the next 5-15…
Plants can “hear” bees buzzing and serve up more nectar when they are nearby, scientists have found. The research suggests that plants are a more active partner than previously thought in their symbiotic relationship with pollinators. The behaviour could be a survival strategy that favours giving nectar and sugar to bees over so-called nectar robbers…
Wildflowers could be absorbing toxic metals from soil in urban areas and passing toxins on to pollinators, a study has found. Researchers from the University of Cambridge found that common plants including white clover and bindweed, which are vital forage for pollinators in cities, can accumulate arsenic, cadmium, chromium and lead from contaminated soils. These…
Scientists in Greece have developed a new method to predict when olive and oak trees will release allergy-triggering pollen into the air. This breakthrough could help allergy sufferers better prepare for the season and alleviate their symptoms. The research, led by S. Papadogiannaki at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, focused on two trees common in…
Scientists say the wolves, who go from flower to flower, may be the 1st-known large carnivore pollinators Ethiopian wolves like to feast on flower nectar, study finds Ethiopian wolves may be carnivores, but new research suggests they supplement their diet with the sweet, sticky nectar of native flowers. The sleek predators of the Ethiopian highlands have been observed…
Despite their reputation as buzzing nuisances, flies serve a critical role as some of the Earth’s most prolific pollinators. A new study led by Penn State scientists suggests that flies are increasingly at risk due to rising global temperatures. An international team of researchers examined the heat tolerance of various bee and fly species in…
Connectivity and maintenance measures support wild bees in limestone quarries A research team at the University of Göttingen, Germany’s Nature And Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) in Rhede, and the Thünen Institute in Braunschweig has investigated the importance of limestone quarries for wild bee conservation. Diverse landscapes with good connectivity between quarries and calcareous grasslands proved…
Reforms needed to ensure the protection of all pollinator species, our food systems and biodiversity as a whole A new study reveals alarming risks that pesticides pose to ground-nesting bees, which are crucial for pollination and food production. As agriculture increasingly relies on pesticides to protect crops, the unintended consequences for these essential pollinators are…
Regulators around the world worried about the risks posed by the so-called dark fleet of tankers have seen ample evidence of how shady operations lead to environmental damage. The latest example, as highlighted by TankerTrackers.com, shows a messy ship-to-ship transfer in the Persian Gulf. TankerTrackers.com, one of the world’s leading watchers of illicit cargo movement,…