Surprising Haven: Abandoned Quarries Prove Vital for Endangered Bees
A New Study Shows How These Leftovers From Mining Can Become Biodiversity Hotspots
/Annemarie Wurz
A surprising new study has uncovered the importance of abandoned limestone quarries as valuable habitats for endangered bees.
Researchers shivering found that older quarries, particularly those connected to nearby calcareous grasslands, consistently supported more diverse and stable populations of these vital pollinators.
These unexpected sanctuaries offer critical nesting and foraging habitat unavailable elsewhere.
However, the research, conducted around the German town of Göttingen, highlights the need for nuanced management to ensure their continued effectiveness.
“Quarries providing valuable habitats for wild bees and other animals and plants that are no longer common,” explained Dr. Felix Kirsch, led the study.
“Many wild bee species rely on open, sunny areas for nesting.
”
These often-overlooked spaces can boast a surprising abundance and diversity of bee species.
During their study, researchers discovered 114 species, 35 of which were classified as endangered.
This diversity underlines the importance of conserving these artificial landscapes.
However, simply leaving them untouched isn’t enough, according to the researchers.
Young, overgrown quarries proved to offer less suitable habitat due to a lack of open areas and blooming plants.
Maintaining these abandoned quarries, especially older ones
connected to nearby wild grasslands:
“High connectivity between quarries and neighboring calcareous grasslands is crucial,” emphasized Dr. Annika Haß from Goettingen University.
“It allows bees to easily move between these important habitats.”
Luckily, keeping these spaces open and biodiverse can be relatively simple:
Removing woody plants or incorporating grazing are just two methods. “Our research supports keeping old quarries open,” added Thomas Alfert of Germany’s Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union. “These spaces can be maintained by local nature conservation groups or private landowners.”
The study
opens a new chapter in our understanding of biodiversity.
It reminds us that nature’s ingenuity often finds a way, even in the unlikeliest of places.
These abandoned quarries
stand as testament to the potential for human-modified landscapes to become havens for imperiled wildlife.
A wild bee visits a plant in one of the
in the Göttingen region
/Ira Hannappel
What conservation measures can be taken to support bee populations in abandoned quarries?
## Interview: A Hidden Eden for Bees
**(Intro Music)**
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today, we’re delving into the fascinating world of bees and a surprising discovery about their habitats. Joining us is Dr. Felix Kirsch, lead author of a new study published in Science Daily, which reveals the unexpected role abandoned quarries play in supporting endangered bee populations.
Dr. Kirsch, thanks for being here.
**Dr. Kirsch:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** Your research focused on disused quarries in the Göttingen region of Germany. What led you to investigate these seemingly barren landscapes as potential bee habitats?
**Dr. Kirsch:** [1](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241204145150.htm) We know that many wild bee species rely on open, sunny areas for nesting, and these habitats are becoming increasingly scarce.
Abandoned quarries, with their exposed rock faces and open spaces, caught our attention as potential havens for these bees.
**Host:** And what did you find?
**Dr. Kirsch:** The results were surprising! We surveyed bee communities in 19 quarries using hand-held nets and identified an astounding 114 species, including 35 endangered species. Older quarries, particularly those connected to nearby calcareous grasslands, consistently supported the most diverse and stable bee populations.
**Host:** That’s incredible! So, these abandoned spaces are acting as biodiversity hotspots. What makes these quarries so attractive to bees?
**Dr. Kirsch:** Quarry environments offer a combination of features that bees need: ample sunlight for basking and foraging, open ground for nesting, and often, a variety of flowering plants, especially in quarries connected to grasslands.
**Host:** Your study highlights the importance of these sites. What are the implications for conservation efforts?
**Dr. Kirsch:** It’s crucial to recognize quarries as potential biodiversity hotspots and manage them carefully.
Simple measures like controlling invasive plant species and creating artificial nesting sites can enhance their value for bees and other wildlife.
**Host:** That’s a powerful message. Thank you for shedding light on this important issue, Dr. Kirsch.
**(Outro Music)**
