Worried About Wildlife

theincrediblesmiffy · #1 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007, 02:28 PM

It's really concerned me to hear that bumble bees are an endangered species. Is it really that climate change is to blame? I hate seeing unatural things occuring.. or that is, natural things occuring when they shouldnt.. I was seeing crickets in May, is that right?
Anyway I was wondering if anyone else had noticed strange wildlife goings on?
Just so that I can get the full picture of the effect (if any) that the strange weather and such is having on it..
Thankss alott

Paul mabbott · #2 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007, 03:35 PM

'Bumble bees' are actually several species of which some are endangered although there does seem to be an overall decline in all bumblebee species. Some of this may be just annual variation related to the weather - I 've seen dozens of drowned bees Bombus terrestris mainly) this week. Obviously if the climate changes this can have some effect, one way or another, on populations levels of bees and most other insects.

There is, and always has been, some variation in appearance time of any animals (or plant) - so early or late showings are not necessarily a problem - although they may be.

Bigger problems are loss of habitat to building, use of biocides, agricultural monocultures (no variety of plants year round), in the case of large insects, road building - so many are killed by car hits

Quote:

Originally Posted by theincrediblesmiffy

It's really concerned me to hear that bumble bees are an endangered species. Is it really that climate change is to blame? I hate seeing unatural things occuring.. or that is, natural things occuring when they shouldnt.. I was seeing crickets in May, is that right?
Anyway I was wondering if anyone else had noticed strange wildlife goings on?
Just so that I can get the full picture of the effect (if any) that the strange weather and such is having on it..
Thankss alott

jordanno · #3 (**permalink**) 13-07-2007, 08:58 AM

honey bees are declining in numbers because of mobile phones! the phone signals confuse them so they get lost and die

theincrediblesmiffy · #4 (**permalink**) 13-07-2007, 11:33 AM

Really? Where did you hear that?
I didnt know bees were sensitive to microwaves.

jordanno · #5 (**permalink**) 13-07-2007, 11:39 AM

i think i heard it on springwatch

nightshade · #6 (**permalink**) 13-07-2007, 11:42 AM

This year I have seen very few Butterflys,Bumblebees,Moths,or Beetles
I have birds that normally forage on pasture in the garden and lots of
Rats we really have cocked things up havent we

theincrediblesmiffy · #7 (**permalink**) 13-07-2007, 12:02 PM

Any ideas why?
It really is terrible isnt it. To think they survived millions of years, untill we come along and decide that we can change their habitats etc. because it suits us better.

nightshade · #8 (**permalink**) 13-07-2007, 12:21 PM

A while ago I mentioned Eels were getting scarce,we are still fishing for them
(mass trapping) to feed Europe with no sign of a let up,are we really so stupid
we will fish them to extinction as we have nearly done with the Cod!!

James M · #9 (**permalink**) 13-07-2007, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightshade

This year I have seen very few Butterflys,Bumblebees,Moths,or Beetles
I have birds that normally forage on pasture in the garden and lots of
Rats we really have cocked things up havent we

I think the lack of Butterflys, Bumblebees and moths and beetles this year is mainly due the awful weather.

theincrediblesmiffy · #10 (**permalink**) 13-07-2007, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightshade

A while ago I mentioned Eels were getting scarce,we are still fishing for them
(mass trapping) to feed Europe with no sign of a let up,are we really so stupid
we will fish them to extinction as we have nearly done with the Cod!!

Funny.. I just posted a knew thread on the water life formum about eels following a news report on dwindling numbers.