Opportunities and challenges in Asian bee research and conservation

Natapot Warrit, John Ascher, Parthib Basu, Vasuki Belavadi, Axel Brockmann, Damayanti Buchori, James B. Dorey, Alice Hughes, Smitha Krishnan, Hien T. Ngo, Paul Williams, Chao Dong Zhu, Dharam Abrol, Kamal Bawa, Chet Bhatta, Renee M. Borges, Silas Bossert, Cleofas Cervancia, Nontawat Chatthanabun, Douglas ChestersPhung Huu Chinh, Kedar Devkota, Hanh Pham Duc, Rafael Ferrari, Lucas Garibaldi, Jin Ge, Dibyajyoti Ghosh, Dunyuan Huang, Chuleui Jung, Alexandra Maria Klein, Jonathan Berenguer Uhuad Koch, Erin Krichilsky, Krushnamegh Kunte, Tial C. Ling, Shanlin Liu, Xiuwei Liu, Arong Luo, Shiqi Luo, Junpeng Mu, Tshering Nidup, Ze Qing Niu, A. Mustafa Nur-Zati, Shannon B. Olsson, Gard W. Otis, Fang Ouyang, Yan Qiong Peng, Windra Priawandiputra, Maxim Proshchalykin, Rika Raffiudin, Anandhan Rameshkumar, Zongxin Ren, Azhagarraja Suruliraj, Sanjay Sane, Xiaoyu Shi, Palatty Allesh Sinu, Deborah R. Smith, Zestin W.W. Soh, Hema Somananthan, Tuanjit Sritongchuay, Alyssa B. Stewart, Cheng Sun, Min Tang, Chawatat Thanoosing, Teja Tscharntke, Nico Vereecken, Su Wang, Kanuengnit Wayo, Siriwat Wongsiri, Xin Zhou, Zhenghua Xie, Dan Zhang, Yi Zou, Pengjuan Zu, Michael Orr

Research output: Contribution to journalShort surveypeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

The challenges of bee research in Asia are unique and severe, reflecting different cultures, landscapes, and faunas. Strategies and frameworks developed in North America or Europe may not prove applicable. Virtually none of these species have been assessed by the IUCN and there is a paucity of public data on even the basics of bee distribution. If we do not know the species present, their distribution and threats, we cannot protect them, but our knowledge base is vanishingly small in Asia compared to the rest of the world. To better understand and meet these challenges, this perspective conveys the ideas accumulated over hundreds of years of cumulative study of Asian bees by the authors, including academic, governmental, and other researchers from 13 Asian countries and beyond. We outline the special circumstances of Asian bee research and the current state of affairs, highlight the importance of highly social species as flagships for the lesser-known solitary bees, the dire need for further research for food security, and identify target research areas in need of further study. Finally, we outline a framework via which we will catalyze future research in the region, especially via governmental and other partnerships necessary to effectively conserve species.

Original languageEnglish
Article number110173
Number of pages11
JournalBiological Conservation
Volume285
Early online date7 Aug 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2023

Keywords

  • Bees
  • Bee research
  • Asia
  • Conservation

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