Pollinator-dependent crops in California are valued at more than $11 billion, making California the largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the United States. However, California’s reliance on managed honeybees for pollination is problematic. The high cost and carbon emissions associated with hive transport, along with the persistently high rates of colony loss reported by beekeepers, render this system unsustainable. To address this issue, we must explore alternative solutions, such as restoring wild pollinator populations. Yet, the impacts of climate change on the health and fitness of wild bees, as well as the ecological traits that enable populations to persist and thrive, remain largely unknown. To fill this knowledge gap, this project will assess how temperature conditions and different habitats affect pollinator health. By doing so, it seeks to understand the factors that influence the vulnerability and resilience of wild bee populations.
Report Information
CCCA5-CNRA-CCRP-P74
Lead Principal Investigator: Marilia Palumbo Gaiarsa
Lead Organization: The Regents of the University of California, Merced
The full report will be available soon.