Hobbies And Interests
Bee Colony Collapse
Both honeybees and bumblebees are declining in numbers, and the population change impacts wild and domestic bees around the world. According to National Geographic News, the population of the domestic honeybee has dropped by about 50 percent over the last 50 years. In addition, bumblebee populations have dropped up to 96 percent in the last few decades, according to a report in the Guardian. The geographic range traveled by bees has also declined, so the few bees left do not travel as far and pollinate fewer plants.
Impact
Up to 30 percent of the U.S. food supply depends on bees for pollination, according to National Geographic News. Almonds, tomatoes, soy beans, berries and coffee beans are all reliant on bee pollination. Cotton plants are also pollinated by bees, so textiles could be at risk. In addition, bees pollinate plants humans do not consume but which serve as a food sources for animals. The loss of bee colonies could disrupt entire food webs if these plants do not get pollinated.
Possible Causes
The cause of the collapse of bee populations remains unknown, although several potential culprits have been identified. Two parasites, the varroa and tracheal mites, have infected some colonies, killing some bees and infecting others with deadly viruses. Pesticide use in commercial agriculture could be another cause of bee deaths. Low genetic diversity among bee populations makes them particularly vulnerable to disease. Habitat destruction is another possible cause that could be harming bees, especially when it results in a loss of biodiversity. The more types of plants bees collects pollen from, the healthier those bees are.
Considerations
Bees are not the only pollinator species in decline. Many populations of moths and hoverflies have also decreased over the decades. The collapse of insect populations might be only a small, visible sign of a more widespread ecological collapse happening across the globe. Some countries and communities are implementing plans to boost the biodiversity of areas frequented by bees in an attempt to stem the losses. In one such effort, the French government has devised a plan to plant wildflowers along roads to boost biodiversity for local bees.