A study indicates that adjusting water supply can reduce honeybee colony loss in Kenya by up to 10% during hot, dry, and wet seasons, where bee populations have decreased by an average of 36% due to climate change. Extended droughts lead to dried water sources and restricted food access for bees, creating economic challenges for beekeepers.
A recent study has shown that adjusting temperature and providing water can significantly benefit Kenyan farmers’ bees. High temperatures contribute to increased colony losses during dry, hot, and wet seasons. Beekeepers who implement water supplementation experience up to a 10% reduction in bee declines. The yearlong research conducted across various Kenyan regions revealed that climate change has caused an average loss of 36% in honeybee colonies from October 2021 to September 2022.
Bees, particularly honeybees, are essential for pollination and agricultural productivity, with the Western honeybee being the most commonly preferred species. Extended droughts lead to dried-up water sources and limited access to necessary flora for bees, which directly impacts their populations. Experts advocate for further assessment of the influence of beekeeping education on the adoption of adaptive practices, including water supplementation in response to climate change.
The study utilized face-to-face interviews with 589 beekeepers to estimate the decrease in honeybee colonies and assess the effects of environmental factors on these losses. Findings indicated that losses during dry and hot periods reached 31.9%, while losses in wet and cooler seasons were up to 20.2%. This research highlights critical information about bee population declines in sub-Saharan Africa, where similar climatic conditions persist.
Malena Sibaja Leyton, the study’s co-author and a Ph.D. candidate, emphasizes that higher temperatures elevate colony losses while adequate precipitation can help mitigate these trends. She underscores the significance of water supplementation in reducing hive losses during extreme weather conditions, thus aiding beekeepers in sustaining their bees.
In conjunction with water provision, Leyton recommends that beekeepers observe seasonal patterns to implement other mitigation strategies, including hive relocation, supplementary feeding, and ensuring shade for their bees during high-temperature periods. These insights serve as crucial data for beekeepers and policymakers in promoting sustainable practices within the industry.
Daniel Waigwa, a beekeeper from Nyeri County, corroborates the study, stating that climate change directly affects honeybee production, particularly during prolonged droughts. He notes the critical connection between bees and economic livelihood, indicating that losses in honeybees result in financial repercussions for those relying on their products.
Ezekiel Ndunda, a lecturer at Kenyatta University, suggests the necessity of extended studies to observe how honeybee populations fluctuate with changing climate conditions. He advocates for integrating climate models to better predict the impacts on beekeeping practices and reinforces the importance of adaptive management strategies for improving colony survival amid climate change.
Ndunda further calls for cross-regional studies in sub-Saharan Africa to understand varying climate effects on honeybee populations and stresses the need for integrating socioeconomic factors into research to develop a comprehensive approach to the challenges facing beekeepers.
The study underscores the critical impact of climate change on honeybee populations in Kenya, revealing significant losses and suggesting that water supplementation can mitigate these effects. It highlights the need for adaptive management strategies and further research to develop sustainable practices for beekeepers. Given the economic importance of honeybees, it is imperative to implement measures that support their populations amid changing climatic conditions.
Original Source: news.mongabay.com
