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Species: Subalpine Larkspur (Delphinium barbeyi), Nevada Bumblebee (Bombus nevadensis)
Location: San Juan Mountains, near Silverton, Colorado
Public Land: San Juan National Forest, Colorado
Description: Nevada Bumblebee (Bombus nevadensis) seeks nectar from a Subalpine Larkspur (Delphinium barbeyi) in a high alpine meadow. In the crisp, high-altitude air of alpine habitats, bumblebees buzz tirelessly from flower to flower, their fuzzy bodies perfectly adapted to the chill and thin atmosphere. These hardy pollinators are vital lifelines for alpine wildflowers, carrying pollen for flowers that bloom in a brief, intense summer. Against a backdrop of rugged peaks and fleeting snow patches, bumblebees embody the persistence and delicate balance of life above the treeline.
Warmer temperatures and drier soil have led to a decline in alpine plant species. Bumblebees have coevolved with many flowers; the bees are dependent on the flowers for nutrition, and the flowers depend on the bees for pollination. Seed production and abundance of flowers in the Rocky Mountains are being affected by climate change, so much so that the pollination behavior of bumblebees is changing. Climate change is encouraging an evolutionary shift from specialization to generalization.
Prints: Fine art print on acid free, 100% cotton rag paper in warm or bright white, textured surface, archival quality.
Species: Subalpine Larkspur (Delphinium barbeyi), Nevada Bumblebee (Bombus nevadensis)
Location: San Juan Mountains, near Silverton, Colorado
Public Land: San Juan National Forest, Colorado
Description: Nevada Bumblebee (Bombus nevadensis) seeks nectar from a Subalpine Larkspur (Delphinium barbeyi) in a high alpine meadow. In the crisp, high-altitude air of alpine habitats, bumblebees buzz tirelessly from flower to flower, their fuzzy bodies perfectly adapted to the chill and thin atmosphere. These hardy pollinators are vital lifelines for alpine wildflowers, carrying pollen for flowers that bloom in a brief, intense summer. Against a backdrop of rugged peaks and fleeting snow patches, bumblebees embody the persistence and delicate balance of life above the treeline.
Warmer temperatures and drier soil have led to a decline in alpine plant species. Bumblebees have coevolved with many flowers; the bees are dependent on the flowers for nutrition, and the flowers depend on the bees for pollination. Seed production and abundance of flowers in the Rocky Mountains are being affected by climate change, so much so that the pollination behavior of bumblebees is changing. Climate change is encouraging an evolutionary shift from specialization to generalization.
Prints: Fine art print on acid free, 100% cotton rag paper in warm or bright white, textured surface, archival quality.