Overview: Fire’s uneven impact on bee biodiversity
New Curtin University research reveals that fire—whether through wild bushfires or prescribed burns—has highly varied effects on global bee populations. Some species thrive in the open, sunlit environments that follow a fire, while others suffer from habitat loss and the destruction of essential food sources. The study, led by Adjunct Research Fellow Dr Kit Prendergast from Curtin’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences, analyzed 148 studies worldwide to understand how different fire regimes influence bees with diverse nesting habits, diets, and social structures.
Bees are critical for pollination and ecosystem health, but pollinator declines are a growing concern. This review is notable for unpacking how fire context—its severity, frequency, and duration—interacts with bee traits to shape outcomes for biodiversity and food security.
Key findings: who benefits and who risks losing ground
Dr Prendergast explained that ground-nesting bees and species with flexible foraging—those that visit many plant species—tend to flourish after fire, especially in open, sunny post-fire landscapes that create new foraging opportunities and nesting sites. “Ground-nesting bees often benefit from the open conditions that follow a fire,” she noted.
Conversely, bees that nest in pre-made holes in trees or rely on a narrow set of plant species for food are more vulnerable. Fire can destroy their nesting cavities and the plants they depend on, leading to declines or local disappearances. The researchers emphasize that such species face increased risk when fires are frequent or severe, or when habitat connectivity is low.
Overall, the review found highly variable responses: some bee species gain from fire-adapted landscapes, while others suffer significant losses. The authors stress that this variability means there is no one-size-fits-all fire management strategy for pollinators.
Implications for biodiversity and ecosystems
The study underscores that a diverse bee community supports resilient ecosystems, food crops, and biodiversity under climate change. “Bees play a vital role in pollination and ecosystem health, and understanding how fire regimes affect them is crucial for conservation and sustainable land management,” said Associate Professor Bill Bateman, co-author from Curtin’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences.
Fire management plans must move beyond hazard reduction alone. The authors advocate for strategies that maintain habitat heterogeneity and connectivity—such as leaving unburnt refuges and applying a mosaic of burn types across landscapes. This approach can help preserve the ecological toolbox that bees provide, even in fire-prone regions like Australia.
Regional gaps and the need for Australia-focused research
The review highlights notable research gaps. Most existing studies originate from North America and Europe, with comparatively fewer investigations conducted in the Southern Hemisphere’s fire-prone ecosystems. The authors point out that Australia, with its rich native bee diversity and landscapes shaped by frequent fire, would benefit from targeted studies to tailor management to local species and fire regimes.
Given Australia’s unique ecological context, the researchers argue for landscape-level fire planning that integrates bee conservation into broader biodiversity goals. The aim is to support pollination services, preserve food security, and sustain ecosystem health in the face of climate-driven changes to fire frequency and intensity.
Practical takeaways for land managers
To preserve bee diversity, land managers should consider:
- Maintaining habitat connectivity so bees can recolonize burned areas.
- Creating refuges or unburnt patches to safeguard sensitive species.
- Employing a mosaic of burn intensities and frequencies to accommodate different bee life histories.
- Incorporating monitoring programs to track how local bee communities respond to fire over time.
Ultimately, the study’s authors call for fire management that explicitly supports native bees and their recovery. As pollinators, bees are integral to sustainable food systems, biodiversity, and healthy ecosystems in a warming world. The full study, “Bees feeling the burn: how fire affects global bee biodiversity,” is published in Biological Reviews (doi: 10.1111/brv.70082).
