Newswise — As National Pollinator Week approaches (June 20-26), University of Vermont researchers say urgent action is needed to preserve U.S. bees, noting that nearly a third of North American bumblebee species are in decline, and several are threatened with extinction.

UVM scientists are available to discuss bee declines, including the causes, adverse impacts on food, agriculture and the economy, species at risk, and bee-friendly practices.

Prof. Taylor RickettsUniversity of VermontDirector, Gund InstituteRubenstein School of Environment and Natural ResourcesEmail: [email protected] (arrange interviews via Basil Waugh)Tel: 802-656-8369

“Bees are critical to our food supply, our economy and our health,” says Taylor Ricketts, who helped map which U.S. regions are most at risk for wild bee declines. “Wild bees help pollinate two-thirds of our most important – and nutritious – crops, and contribute over $3 billion to the U.S. economy each year.”

Expert topics:--U.S. regions most at risk for wild bee losses--Bees’ importance to human nutrition and health--Bees value to the economy, food and nature--Causes of bee declines – and potential solutionsFoods (coffee, chocolate, key fruits and vegetables) that require pollination--How to promote healthy wild bees

Leif RichardsonPostdoctoral ResearcherUniversity of VermontGund Institute at UVMRubenstein School of Environment and Natural ResourcesEmail: [email protected]Tel: 802-793-6446

“Greater bee declines could produce a troubling mismatch between bees and the important crops that need pollination to grow,” says Leif Richardson, who co-authored a study in Science Magazine on bee declines from climate change. “That would mean higher food prices, reduced biodiversity and other troubles.”

Expert Topics: --How climate change is shrinking bumblebee habitats--Bees, such as Bombus affinis, being considered for Endangered Species Act --Causes of bee declines, including neonicotinoid pesticides--How sick bumblebees “self-medicate” by seeking key plant chemicals--Food and plants that require pollination--How to promote healthy wild bees

Watch a video of UVM bee research in action.

Learn more about UVM efforts to stop global bee declines.

Follow the Gund Institute’s Twitter, Facebook and news alerts for National Pollinator Week research and experts.

Bee photos available upon request.

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