ClimBeEr - Climate change effects on bumbleBEes and the ERicaceous dwarf shrubs they pollinate

Using a space-for-time substitution design and a manipulative experiment, ClimBeEr assesses the impacts of climate change on bumblebee–dwarf shrubs interactions along an altitudinal gradient and disentangles the effects of climate and habitat changes related to treeline shift on berry production.

It focuses on bilberry and lingonberry, two keystone species in alpine and arctic ecosystems mainly pollinated by bumblebees, with high economic and cultural values.

The project aims to investigate if climate change might disrupt dwarf shrub-bumblebee interactions through phenological and/or functional mismatches, and the consequences for bilberry and lingonberry reproductive success. To this end, we will work the Latnjajaure mountain (close to Abisko).

We will: 1) study climate change impacts on bilberry/lingonberry phenology, bumblebee community composition and phenology, their interactions and their functional traits involved in plant-pollinator interactions; 2) disentangle the effects of climate warming, habitat change and changes in pollinator community composition on berry production.

The work rests on an international collaboration with scientists with expertise in climate change, pollination ecology and mountain ecosystems.

This project is in line with the Swedish environmental goal “A magnificent mountain landscape” and involve interaction with selected stakeholders to both ensure the relevance of the project within this goal and communicate the results to a wider public.