BBC: Bees and balanced diets

Today we're buzzing with excitment- because we're talking about bees. Not honey bees that live in hives, but wild bees, the ones that fly around freely and play a huge role in pollinating flowers. 

Yes! A new study has shown that wild bees are much smarter than we think when it comes to their diet. They actually visit different flowers to balance what they eat- protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Just like humans trying to eat a balanced meal!

It't fascinating, and it also tells us something important about conservation and protecting biodiversity. And as always, we'll learn some useful English words along the way. 

But first, let's start with today's quiz question. Listen carefully: 

How many species of wild bumblebees were observation in the Colorad Rockies during the study?

a) Three   b) Five    c) Eight  or d) Twelve

We'll give you the answer at the end. 

So, let's get into the study. Researchers watched wild bumblebees in the Colorado Riockies for eight years. They tracked which flowers the bees visited and what kind of pollen they collected. 

And here's the amazing part- they discovered that bees don't just collect pollen randomly. They choose flowers with different nutrient levels, almost like making a food plan. Some pollen is high in protein, some is richer in fats or carbohydrates. 

Our first word today is pollen. Pollen is the fine yellow powder that plants produce. Bees collect it from flowers, and it becomes their main source of protein and nutrients. 

Right. And the researchers found that some flowers were only about 17% protein, while others were as much as 86%. That's a big difference!

Another fascinating  detail is that the nutrition of pollen changes with the seasons. For example, spring flowers are usually richer in protein, while late-summer flowers tend to have more fats and carbohydrates. 

That means the bees adapt their diets as the year goes on. Just like how we might eat lighter meals in summer and heartier ones in winter. 

Here's our second word: macronutrients. Macronutrients are the main parts of food that give us energy- protein, fats, and carnbohydrates. The study shows that bees are balancing these macronutrients depending on what their colony needs. 

Exactly. So even tiny bees are making big nutritional decisions. 

The study also found that not all bees species eat the same things. Larger-bodied bees with longer tongues preferred pollen with more protein, but less sugar and fat. 

Smaller bees with shorter tongues went for pollen with more carbohydrates and fats. It shows how species adapt differently to the food that's available. 

That's our third word: niche. A niche is a special role or place in an ecosystem where an animal or plant fits best. In this case, each bees species has its own nutrient niche- its own unique diet strategy.

And that's important because it means one type of flower or one type of pollen won't support all bee species. Diversity really matters. 

Now, what does this mean for us humans? Well, it shows that when we plant gardens or protect wild spaces, we should think about variety. Different flowers provide different nutrients, and bees need that mix to survive. 

That's why conservation experts talk about nutritional diversity. Protecting one kind of flower isn't enough- you need a whole menu of plants so all types of bees can thrive. 

Here's our fourth word:conservation. 

Conservation means protecting nature- plants, animals, and the environment- so that it can continue for the future. 

And in this case, conservation is not just about saving bees- it's about saving our food systems, since so much of what we eat depends on pollinators. 

Another interesting point: bees don't just collect food randomly. They show something researchers call collective intelligence- the ability of the group to solve problems together.