Multiple habitats need protecting to save UK bumblebees, ten-year study reveals
Multiple habitats need to be protected in order to save UK bumblebees, a decade-long study has found.
Researchers used data on bumblebee numbers, collected by the public, to provide the most detailed overview currently possible of what the insects need from a habitat.
They found a wide range of differences between bumblebee species in the types of habitat they are associated with.
But the study suggests that reversing the loss of semi-natural areas could be the single most generally effective step in bumblebee conservation.
One third of the UK'S 24 species of bumblebee are listed as species of conservation concern because they are being found in fewer places.
According to researchers at the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the University of Edinburgh, this suggested a one-size-fits-all approach to bumblebee conservation will not effectively protect all species.
Therefore conservation efforts need to be carefully tailored to particular species, they say.
Dr Penelope Whitehorn, at the karl sr u he institute of technology, who led the study, said: "Our results suggest that reversing the loss of semi-natural areas such as wetlands maybe the single most generally effective action for bumblebee conservation, while improving habitats in urban and arab le areas could benefit particular rare species.
"As one of the most nature depleted countries in the world it' s really important that we better protect our native species and habitats in the UK."
The study identified the types of habitat that could be targeted for conversation.
It found that arable areas – suitable for growing crops – were important for rare species like the large garden bumblebee,the largest species in the UK.
Large areas of semi-natural land, like moorland, were important for a number of different species such as the moss and the brown-banded carder bees, and the bilberry bumblebee.
The data for the study was provided by a long-running citizen science project, which the researchers see as essential for both collecting the data and engaging the public in conservation.
Dr white horn said :" our study highlights the value of citizen science for understanding bumblebees and their habitats.
Citizen science also gives everyone a chance to contribute to protecting these species."
The research also found that queens and males of several species were particularly associated with areas of scrub, bracken and herbs, suggesting that these habitats are good for nesting.
Worker bees were more commonly associated with hedges and lanes, suggesting these are good for providing food.
Richard Comont, science manager at the Bumblebee Conservation trust, said :" bumblebees need areas with lots of flowers available from March right through to September/ October.
"Bees lose this vital resource when habitats are lost entirely because they're either built on or changed into other environments or degraded through things like pesticide use," Mr Comont added.
The study was based on data from the bumblebee conservation Trust' s Bee walk scheme.