Is China's unparalleled and understudied bee diversity at risk?

Abstract

China is one of the most significant providers of pollination ecosystem services globally. In addition to having unparalleled bee diversity, China has more than eight million managed bee colonies, and it is the world's major honey producer. Yet, pollinators in China, especially bumble bees (Bombus spp.) and honey bees (Apis spp.), are likely at risk. Massive pollinator declines in various countries have rightly grabbed the attention of beekeepers, scientists, policymakers, and the general public, but research has almost exclusively focused on the U.S. and Europe, while countries with significantly higher pollination resources (such as China) have received far less attention. This perspective piece questions and highlights the risks to wild and managed pollinators in China and critical research gaps. We show that there may be a “pollination gap” in China for crops dependent on insect pollination and we examine the potential causes. Specifically, we assess the risks associated with land-use intensification, pesticide poisoning, climate change, invasive species, and other factors affecting the survival of bee pollinators in Asia. If true, the effects of declining pollinator populations in China would be felt globally, and with so much at stake, this problem merits careful consideration in the development of agriculture, economic, and conservation policies.