Pollinators decline in western U.S., southern Mexico

Bee and butterfly populations are declining across parts of North America, researchers found, but gaps in pollinator research are limiting our ability to protect these species.

In a study published in PLOS One, researchers found declining species richness in four families of bees and butterflies in the western U.S. and southern Mexico. The declines appear to be related to the effects of climate change—including prolonged drought and habitat degradation—as well as land use changes. Meanwhile, butterfly populations in the eastern U.S. appear to be on the rise.

“Overall, changes in pollinator diversity appear to reflect changes in climate, though other factors such as land use change may also explain regional shifts,” researchers found.

Read the study in PLOS One.