Forecasting the Effects of Global Change on a Bee Biodiversity Hotspot.

ABSTRACT: The Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, recognized as a global hotspot for bee biodiversity, are experiencing habitat degradation from urbanization, utility-scale solar energy (USSE) development, and climate change. In this study, we evaluated the current and future distribution of bee diversity, assessed how protected areas safeguard bee species richness, and predicted how global change may affect bees across the region. Using Joint Species Distribution Models (JSDMs) of 148 bee species, we project changes in species distributions, occurrence area, and richness under four global change scenarios between 1971 and 2050. We evaluated the threat posed by USSE development and predicted how climate change will affect the suitability of protected areas for conservation. Our findings indicate that change

SUBMITTER: Buckner MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11606700 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature