Summary:
A new study has found that global warming and evolution is reshaping the bodies of some american bumblebees. The tongues of two rocky mountain bumblebees are shorter than they were 40 years ago. According to a study their tongues are about one-quarter shorter compared to the forty years ago, the cause was the way climate change altered the wildflowers they normal feed on. In one species the bees' tongue measured half the size of it's body, equivalent of a human tongue going down to the waist. Since the flowers where the long tongue is needed have dwindled, bees didn't really need long tongues. In order for bees to keep their long tongues they require the use of more energy. The bees short tongue allows them to sample wider variety of flowers. Meanwhile biologists have tracked how global warming has altered the migration, developmental, timing and other behaviors in plants and animals. What's makes this study unusual are the physical changes in the bees.
Reflection:
I chose this article because I found it interesting and kind a odd that due to global warming bees' tongues are shrinking due to the dwindling of wildflowers. Another thing I found interesting about this was that how were researchers able to notice the shrinkage of there tongues because they're so small so how can someone tell if it really did shrink or not. I know some people wouldn't really care about what happens to the bees but they're actually important because they help grow our agricultural crops. Fruits, nuts, seeds, fiber (such as cotton) and hay all require pollination by insects; bees beautify the planet.
A new study has found that global warming and evolution is reshaping the bodies of some american bumblebees. The tongues of two rocky mountain bumblebees are shorter than they were 40 years ago. According to a study their tongues are about one-quarter shorter compared to the forty years ago, the cause was the way climate change altered the wildflowers they normal feed on. In one species the bees' tongue measured half the size of it's body, equivalent of a human tongue going down to the waist. Since the flowers where the long tongue is needed have dwindled, bees didn't really need long tongues. In order for bees to keep their long tongues they require the use of more energy. The bees short tongue allows them to sample wider variety of flowers. Meanwhile biologists have tracked how global warming has altered the migration, developmental, timing and other behaviors in plants and animals. What's makes this study unusual are the physical changes in the bees.
Reflection:
I chose this article because I found it interesting and kind a odd that due to global warming bees' tongues are shrinking due to the dwindling of wildflowers. Another thing I found interesting about this was that how were researchers able to notice the shrinkage of there tongues because they're so small so how can someone tell if it really did shrink or not. I know some people wouldn't really care about what happens to the bees but they're actually important because they help grow our agricultural crops. Fruits, nuts, seeds, fiber (such as cotton) and hay all require pollination by insects; bees beautify the planet.