Researchers at York University have determined that the American Bumblebee, a species that can be found across Southern Ontario, is critically endangered and facing 鈥榠mminent extinction鈥� in Canada 鈥� the highest and most at-risk classification before extinction.
鈥淭his species is at risk of extinction and it鈥檚 currently not protected in any way despite the drastic decline,鈥� Sheila Colla, assistant professor in the faculty of environmental studies, says in a .
Colla鈥檚 research team, led by graduate student Victoria MacPhail and including a scientist from the University of Vermont, analyzed data from three sources and found that the American Bumblebee鈥檚 area of occurrence has decreased by 70 percent and its relative abundance fell by 89 percent from 2007-2016 compared to 1907-2006.
鈥淭his bumblebee species now has reduced overall range,鈥� says MacPhail in the release.
The bees used to be found from Windsor, Ont. to Ottawa and into Quebec.
鈥淚t is now only found in some core areas and has experienced a 37 percent decrease in overall range,鈥� she says.
Bees are important pollinators and integral to local ecosystems. Colla worries that the American Bumblebee will echo her previous findings on the Rusty-patched Bumblebee, which has not been seen in Canada for about 10 years and is also critically endangered.
鈥淣ow that we have assessed the extent of the decline we can look more closely鈥o design an effective conservation management plan so that this species does not disappear from Canada forever,鈥� says Colla.
