Scientists make game-changing discovery about the hidden factor threatening honeybees worldwide: 'May need to adapt their practices'
Mongabay reported on the results of a yearlong study in Kenya that was published in the Journal of Environmental Management. It revealed that effects from climate change cost beekeepers 36% of their colonies on average.
The biggest culprit for the beekeepers was hot and dry conditions, which created losses of up to 31.9%. Wet and cold periods produced losses of up to 20.2%. The study included interviews with 589 Kenyan beekeepers from a variety of the country's microclimates.
Honeybees play a huge role in the Kenyan economy. They aid agriculture as crucial pollinators of plants, and are moneymakers for beekeepers as producers of coveted products like honey, beeswax, and royal jelly. For those reasons, there are worldwide programs devoted to honeybee conservation.Despite that, scientists had very little to go on when it came to the climate's effect on Kenyan honeybee colonies, per Mongabay. Study co-author Malena Sibaja Leyton noted the study provided the "first large-scale estimates of honeybee livestock decrease in Kenya."
While the study uncovered the negative effects of heat waves and stormy periods, there were some remedies for Kenyan beekeepers. Leyton said the study found "water supplementation as an adaptive management strategy, reducing livestock decrease by up to 10% during the dry and hot season."
Other strategies suggested by Leyton included relocating bee colonies, supplementing feeding, and creating shade for the bees during hot periods. Daniel Waigwa, a beekeeper manager of Urban Beekeepers, agreed with the study's conclusions in comments to Mongabay.
"Kenyan beekeepers may need to adapt their practices, such as relocating hives, providing supplementary feeding or water and selecting bee strains more resilient to heat and the ever-changing environmental conditions," Waigwa said.
With global temperatures reaching record highs in the summer of 2024, the impacts are increasingly being felt by global agriculture. These changes have struck close to home in Kenya when it comes to plum farming, which local farmers had to jettison due to failing crops.
While honeybees have shown remarkable resilience to hot weather by altering their flying patterns, this study shows that it does negatively affect them. There are concerning signs when it comes to honeybees' survival, and mounting threats like light pollution could test them even more.
Should the government be able to control how we heat our homes?
Definitely
Only if it saves money
I'm not sure
No way
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
Ezekiel Ndunda, a lecturer at Kenya's Kenyatta University, told Mongabay that the next step for scientists is to expand the scope of their study.
"The interaction between temperature and precipitation emphasizes the complexity of climate impacts on beekeeping, thus the need for even longer study periods," Ndunda explained. "We need to integrate climate change models to predict future scenarios for honeybee populations, examining how projected changes in temperature and precipitation will likely affect beekeeping."
Ndunda concluded by suggesting investigating other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and taking into account socioeconomic factors to help guide Kenyan beekeepers as effectively as possible.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Yahoo
Scientists issue warning after detecting shift in rare predator's hunting habits: 'Likely to happen to humans too'
Scientists issue warning after detecting shift in rare predator's hunting habits: 'Likely to happen to humans too' Land development and habitat loss have driven fishing cats in Thailand to near extinction, per Mongabay. To survive, they've been living closer to humans. But how has that affected their species? What's happening? The International Union for Conservation of Nature has marked fishing cats as vulnerable to extinction, according to Mongabay. Traditionally, fishing cats have lived and hunted in marshlands. However, human activity has forced them out of their natural habitats. They've consequently turned to agricultural and aquacultural developments for stable food sources, like fish, rodents, and insects. Unfortunately, they've also eaten people's chickens, leading to a hostile relationship with local farmers, who have killed them in retaliation. Conservationists are trying to change the narrative, pointing out fishing cats' affinity for pest control. While this has helped prevent violence against the cats, the species still has low genetic diversity. And that's not all — scientists have also discovered microplastics in their bodies. "Fishing cats and people occupy the same ecological role of top predator," Rattapan Pattanarangsan, a program manager at a wild cat conservation organization, told Mongabay. "So, what happens to fishing cats is likely to happen to humans too." Why does the fishing cat's decline matter? As far as humans are concerned, take a look at fishing cats' diets. The discovery of microplastics in their digestive systems doesn't bode well for ours. Studies have found that microplastics are the most abundant pollutants in the oceans, being consumed by fish and making their way up the food chain to top predators. Research indicates that microplastics have huge health consequences, damaging your kidneys, heart, and reproductive system. So far, no one knows exactly what this is doing to fishing cats. But it doesn't bode well. Like Pattanarangsan said, fishing cats are apex predators. This is a crucial role in any ecosystem. When apex predators die out, prey populations spiral out of control. Let's use another apex predator as an example. According to BBC Wildlife, the hunting of grey wolves at Yellowstone National Park set off a chain reaction: elk populations increased, overgrazed on trees, and caused the local beaver population's sharp decline. Do you think we should be trying to pull pollution out of the atmosphere? Absolutely I need to know more In some situations No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The fishing cats are no different. Like all animals, they're part of a complex, delicate web. When a species goes extinct, it can have dire consequences for another. What's being done about it? In Thailand, fishing cats are becoming a kind of national mascot. Teacher Supoj Sukapat is leading youth conservation initiatives in which students learn about marshlands and the importance of fishing cats. He told Mongabay that kids are going home and telling their parents not to harm the cats. Killing fishing cats is also a no-go in Thailand, and those who break the law are subject to heavy fines and/or imprisonment. If you'd like to help the fishing cats on an individual level, consider donating to causes that directly work with wild cats. Other takeaways from this story include the importance of discussing environmental issues with your family and friends and doing what you can to limit plastic pollution. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
Business Wire
30-07-2025
- Business Wire
Accelerating Impact: AstraZeneca and Revna Biosciences Expand Access to Lung Cancer Treatment in Ghana
ACCRA, Ghana--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The strategic partnership between AstraZeneca and Revna Biosciences is rapidly transforming the landscape of lung cancer care in Ghana. Since the initial announcement in April 2025, the collaboration has made remarkable progress in improving the patient journey—from early diagnosis to molecular testing and now, access to life-saving treatment. Putting patients first: RevnaBio & AstraZeneca deliver EGFR-targeted therapy to Ghana, setting a new standard in cancer care. In a landmark development, AstraZeneca launched one of their targeted therapies for EGFR mutated Lung Cancer patients in Ghana. This milestone marks a pivotal moment in the partnership's mission to bring cutting-edge, targeted therapies to patients in the sub-Saharan African region. 'This collaboration exemplifies how a synergized biomedical ecosystem such as RevnaBio's can help address long-standing institutional voids that have limited access to advanced molecular diagnostics and targeted therapies in this region,' said Dr. Derrick Edem Akpalu, Co-Founder & CEO of Revna Biosciences. 'By integrating advanced diagnostics, data, and treatment pathways, we are enabling a new standard of care for patients who have historically been underserved.' Transforming Cancer Care Through Strategic Execution Revna and AstraZeneca have rapidly translated a shared vision into tangible outcomes across diagnostics, data, and treatment infrastructure: Oncology Treatment Capacity Building: Convened a strategic Lung Cancer Symposium and Training Workshop to strengthen diagnostic capacity by equipping pathologists and oncology leaders with advanced tools and protocols for precision lung cancer diagnostics. Clinical Workflow Optimization: Operationalized EGFR biomarker testing within diagnostic workflows at leading cancer centers, advancing precision oncology and enabling targeted therapy selection at the point of care. Enabling Patient Access: Built a scalable infrastructure that connects cutting-edge molecular diagnostics to personalized treatment pathways, accelerating time-to therapy. Future-Ready Platform: Established real-time data integration to enhance clinical decision-making while building a scalable foundational framework for regional research into molecular profiling, treatment response, and resistance mechanisms. 'We are proud to see this partnership with Revna Biosciences already delivering meaningful impact for patients in Ghana,' said Dr. Khomotso Mashilane, the Medical Director African Cluster at Astrazeneca. 'By combining advanced diagnostics with access to targeted anti-cancer therapies, we are helping to ensure that patients receive the right treatment at the right time. This is a testament to the power of science and collaboration in transforming cancer care.' Voices from the Frontline 'As a triple board-certified physician, I've seen firsthand how delayed diagnosis and limited access to targeted therapies can impact outcomes,' said Dr. Preetivi Ellis, Co-Founder and Medical Head of Revna Biosciences. 'This partnership is a game-changer. We are not only treating today's patients more effectively—we are also building the genomic and real-world data infrastructure that will shape the future of cancer care.' A Shared Ethos: Today's Patients, Tomorrow's Promise This collaboration is deeply aligned with RevnaBio's ethos: caring for today's patients while gleaning genomic and real-world insights that pave the way for better diagnostics and therapies for tomorrow. By embedding precision medicine into the heart of Ghana's healthcare system, RevnaBio and AstraZeneca are setting a new standard for cancer care for the region. About AstraZeneca AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused pharmaceutical company dedicated to transforming the future of healthcare by unlocking the power of what science can do. The company delivers life-changing medicines across oncology, cardiovascular, renal and metabolism, respiratory, and rare diseases. About Revna Biosciences Revna Biosciences is a dual ISO-accredited precision medicine company advancing genomic research through Africa's unparalleled genetic diversity. The company's synergized ecosystem leverages its multidisciplinary laboratory facility to seamlessly integrate advanced molecular diagnostics, biobanking, and clinical and translational research services as a foundation for precision medicine advancement. With a biobank comprising samples across infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, oncology, rare diseases, and more, Revna supports translational science, biomarker discovery, population genetics, pharmacogenomic studies, and clinical trial optimization. Its digital platform, ROBIN, integrates real-world evidence, phenotypic data, and cross-border logistics to streamline early-phase to late-phase R&D, diagnostics validation, and population-specific therapy development for global health innovation.
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Yahoo
Bryan Norcross: First significant African disturbance to track across Atlantic this week
Updated at 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, July 27, 2025 The robust cluster of thunderstorms is obvious from the European satellite that covers western Africa. The disturbance is forecast to cross the African coast and move into the Atlantic late tomorrow or early Tuesday. The tropical ocean is still blanketed with Saharan dust and dry air, but some of the reliable computer forecast models indicate that this disturbance is carrying enough moisture that it has a chance of surviving its trek to the Caribbean. The disturbance will have to run a gauntlet of occasionally hostile upper-level winds and significant dry air, so the odds are low that the system that arrives in the vicinity of the Caribbean islands at the end of the week will be very robust. All the computer forecasts that predict that the dust, dry air, and upper winds will take a toll on the disturbance and keep it weak generally forecast nothing more than a moisture surge moving through the islands next weekend. A number of the forecasts generated by both traditional and AI models, however, show a somewhat coherent system ending up near the northeast Caribbean around Saturday. There is no indication that it would be a strong storm at that time, but obviously it will be worth watching. In the long range, nine or 10 days from now, things, as always, become quite uncertain, but some long-range forecasts indicate that the conditions north of the Caribbean and east of the Bahamas could be more conducive to development than over the tropical Atlantic. In addition, there is some indication that the overall atmospheric pattern, as reflected by the phenomenon called the MJO, will be moving into a phase more conducive for storm development around the second week of August. There are a lot of ifs and maybes at this point, as there always are when we're talking about forecasts more than a week in advance. And in this case, the system hasn't even reached the ocean. So this is mostly only interesting because it's the first Africa-born system that the computer forecasts have given a chance of fighting off the dust and dry air. As we move into August, obviously, there will be more. The National Hurricane Center isn't picking up on the system yet – an indication that the consensus of the computer forecasts is that the disturbance will remain disorganized this week. A tropical depression has developed southeast of the Hawaiian Islands. It's forecast to continue west well south of the islands and never develop into more than a tropical storm. The system is one of three potential storms in the Eastern Pacific. That's mostly interesting because it can be an indication that the MJO pulse supportive of tropical development is migrating across the Pacific. The pulse moves from west to east, so if it hangs together, it would be expected to move over the Atlantic in another week or so. We'll see. For now, it's important to remember that nothing unusual is happening. The calendar is heading for August, so we start to pay attention to African disturbances. That's just the way the cookie article source: Bryan Norcross: First significant African disturbance to track across Atlantic this week Solve the daily Crossword
