bees
A World without Bees! What is causing pollinator declines in the northern hemisphere and what are the potential implications for South Africa?
The world depends heavily on pollinators. Although the bee is not the only pollinator, pollination is the bee’s main niche, so without bees, there would be an enormous decrease in plant life. Plants that are not pollinated will not produce fruits and seeds. And would therefore cause and end of animals and human life. Albert Einstein said: “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left.” The bee was once described as the ‘Canary in a coalmine.’
An important aspect of bees is is that they pollinate many agricultural crops and are therefore a huge economical source; mostly through honey production and plant reproduction. Bees are vital to our ecosystems and it is said that out of 100 crop species which provides 90% of our global food, 71% of those are pollinate by bees, and 1/3 of the food we eat needs to be pollinated.
Scientists have started to notice abrupt disappearance of bees globally and have conducted experiments leading to CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder). Although CCD has occurred throughout the history of apiculture, it has never been on such a large scale. CCD has been baffling scientists in the past few years. A solution is desperately needed because earth is losing between 1 and 10% of biodiversity per decade
CCD is mainly caused by Neonicotinoids which is a pesticide which paralysises or sometimes kills the bees. It affects their nervous system, damages their memory and weakens their immune system. These chemicals can get into sap, nectar and pollen which then go into the bee. As many chemicals are available, they sometimes combine to create a ‘cocktail effect’ which makes the bees lose their ability to find their way home.
Climate change is a factor which affects the pollinators decline as it changes the flowering times of plants and alters the rainfall
The world depends heavily on pollinators. Although the bee is not the only pollinator, pollination is the bee’s main niche, so without bees, there would be an enormous decrease in plant life. Plants that are not pollinated will not produce fruits and seeds. And would therefore cause and end of animals and human life. Albert Einstein said: “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left.” The bee was once described as the ‘Canary in a coalmine.’
An important aspect of bees is is that they pollinate many agricultural crops and are therefore a huge economical source; mostly through honey production and plant reproduction. Bees are vital to our ecosystems and it is said that out of 100 crop species which provides 90% of our global food, 71% of those are pollinate by bees, and 1/3 of the food we eat needs to be pollinated.
Scientists have started to notice abrupt disappearance of bees globally and have conducted experiments leading to CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder). Although CCD has occurred throughout the history of apiculture, it has never been on such a large scale. CCD has been baffling scientists in the past few years. A solution is desperately needed because earth is losing between 1 and 10% of biodiversity per decade
CCD is mainly caused by Neonicotinoids which is a pesticide which paralysises or sometimes kills the bees. It affects their nervous system, damages their memory and weakens their immune system. These chemicals can get into sap, nectar and pollen which then go into the bee. As many chemicals are available, they sometimes combine to create a ‘cocktail effect’ which makes the bees lose their ability to find their way home.
Climate change is a factor which affects the pollinators decline as it changes the flowering times of plants and alters the rainfall