Bees, and Other Flying Insects, at Greater Risk of Climate Change Extinction, According to CU Denver and Georgia Tech Researchers

CU Denver News, September 11, 2023 Press Release

Flying insects struggle with low oxygen and thin air at high elevations.

DENVER—In response to rising global temperatures, many plants and animals are moving to higher elevations to survive in cooler temperatures. But a new study from the University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) and Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) finds that for flying insects—including bees and moths—this escape route may have insurmountable issues that could mean their doom.

The research team examined more than 800 species of insects from around the world and discovered that many winged insects are moving to higher elevations much slower than their non-flying counterparts. This is because the thinner air at higher elevations provides less oxygen for species to use. Because flight requires more oxygen to generate energy for movement than other styles of movement, such as walking, these species are migrating more slowly. 

The team’s findings were published in this week’s Nature Climate Change journal. Jesse Shaich, postbaccalaureate student at CU Denver, is also a member of the research team.

“When we think about where species will be able to live under climate change in the coming decades, we need to remember that animals are sensitive to more than just how hot or cold they are,” said CU Denver Assistant Professor of Integrated Biology Michael Moore, PhD, who led the study. 

You can read the full CU Denver News press release here.