I feel compelled to try to keep this thread about bees. As humans, we definitely have the capacity to warm the entire earth a significant amount, or to produce a nuclear devastation. Anyone who doubts that doesn't understand science. Further, we have the ability to detect these changes and evaluate them. 

We do not have the ability to predict the effect these changes will have, so anybody's guess is good as anyone else's. Models are greatly affected by any small variations, so models are of limited use, other than to show what *could* happen. And to a very large extent, we can alter our behavior, defusing the arguments of doomsayers.

As far as bees go, various species of bees have been around for hundreds of millions of years, and have endured radical changes in climate, habitat, etc. Honey bees, as a domesticated species, are not likely to go extinct or even come anywhere near that. 

Wild honey bees, on the other hand, may number in the hundreds of millions of colonies -- in Africa and South America. These may be predominantly African bees, but they are still honey bees and are not endangered by any stretch of the imagination. Small populations of unique native bees in various locations, are in serious jeopardy. 

So the big picture is: the major players such as humans, bees, rats, etc. are unlikely to be seriously affected by global climate change, at least *as species*. Locally, individuals may have to migrate, or significantly change their lifestyles. But look at where people live and thrive: all they way from Siberia to Saudi Arabia. Wherever people are, there are bees.

PLB

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html