Here, we don’t eat pan cakes. We have Dosa. The reason I bring this up is that pan cakes aren’t consumed as much as maple syrup. Instead, we have honey. Mostly used in tea, yogurt, fruits, and certain dishes, even with dosa you can have. Its good, especially when you are out of all sambhar, chutneys, and poddiies.
I wanted to write about bees long ago, but certain new topics were distracting me. Distraction is the new common. I agree! I had some connection with honey bees. Maybe it was because we had apiculture as an option during my undergraduate studies. I was not a part of it, but I was a keen observer. Let’s talk about them.
Bees are key pollinators. They travel from flower to flower, transferring pollen and collecting nectar. This also allows the plants to produce fruits and seeds. Approximately 75% of the crops we consume depend on pollination, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Imagine a world without apples, almonds, avocados, mangoes, and others. Our diets would be far less colorful, diverse, and nutritious. Bumble bees and honey bees are the key people here.
But these bees’ influence goes beyond food crops. They also pollinate wild plants, which play critical roles in natural ecosystems. These plants provide food and habitat for other wildlife, help maintain soil health, and contribute to the water cycle.
The majority of the bees live in solitude. Can you imagine? Those are called solitary bees. Sweet bees, bumble bees, and honey bees live in colonies with a queen bee, a worker bee, and a drone.
Solitary bees, unlike them, do not live in colonies. Each female solitary bee is a queen in her own right, building and provisioning her own nest. There are over 20,000 species of solitary bees, including mason bees, leafcutter bees, and carpenter bees. Despite their solitary nature, they play a crucial role in pollination. It’s interesting, isn’t it?
Bees usually visit flowers that are brightly colored, aromatic, open during the day, and full of nectar. When visiting the flowers to collect the nectar, there is a specialized structure called a pollen basket (corbicula), which is nothing but a concave depression fringed with stiff hairs. So when they land, the pollen grains stick to their bodies. Surprisingly, solitary bees have scopa and not pollen baskets. They often focus on specific plants and ensure thorough pollination. This efficiency makes them crucial for both agricultural crops and wild plants.
Climate Change
#Rising Temperature
Climate change has led to increased global temperatures, which disrupts the natural life cycles of both honey bees and solitary bees. According to research published in Science, warmer temperatures cause them to emerge from their hives earlier. Before even the flowers could bloom. Early spring. This incorrect timing means bees cannot find enough food to sustain themselves, leading to weakened colonies or even colony collapse.
#Weather Patterns
Obviously, we can see them very clearly. Its too hot, cyclone, delayed moonsoon, or flood. Unpredictable weather can destroy flowers and disrupt blooming periods, depriving bees of their food sources. Imagine waking up for breakfast to find your groceries empty. I know it’s not exactly a great start to the day. For bees, this can mean starvation and reduced reproductive success.
#Flowering Patterns
Some species are blooming earlier, while others are blooming later. This creates a mismatch between the availability of flowers and the bees’ foraging periods. A study in the Journal of Applied Ecology found that such mismatches can reduce the effectiveness of pollination, impacting plant reproduction and, subsequently, the entire food web.
#Pest and Disease
Warmer temperatures and changing climates are also conducive to the spread of diseases and parasites that affect honey bees and solitary bees. With the rise in the use of pesticides, it leads to pesticide poisoning. Reduction in the yield of cross pollinated crops, contamination of bee crops, and many more.
Consequences
#Habitat losses
Habitat loss through phenomena such as forest fires, droughts, and shifting vegetation zones. As habitats change, bees may struggle to find suitable nesting sites and food sources. Urbanization and agricultural expansion, etc. It also impacts natural habitats, leaving bees with fewer places to thrive. This creates a ripple effect throughout the ecosystem, leading to reduced biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. The loss of species can have unforeseen consequences, disrupting ecological balance and the services ecosystems provide.
#Crop Yield and Food Security
As bee populations decline, so does their pollination service, which directly impacts crop yields. A study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B highlighted that reduced pollination could lead to significant decreases in the production of key crops. This threatens food security and increases the risk of malnutrition, particularly in regions that rely heavily on pollinated crops.
#Economic loss
The decline in bee populations also has economic implications. The global economic value of pollination services provided by bees is estimated to be billions of dollars annually. A reduction in these services means increased costs for farmers, who may need to invest in alternative pollination methods, such as hand-pollination or mechanical pollinators. This can drive up food prices, affecting consumers worldwide. There are also findings from People and Nature that suggest developed nations should invest more in the coverage of pollinators.
What we can do ?
#Sustainable agriculture
One of the most effective ways to support bees is by promoting sustainable agricultural practices. This includes reducing the use of pesticides and herbicides, which can harm bees, and encouraging organic farming methods. Also intergate other farming systems. This can have more diverse plant species and flowering times, providing bees with a more consistent food supply.
#Creating Bee-Friendly Habitats
We and our communities can contribute by creating bee-friendly habitats. Planting a variety of flowering plants that bloom at different times of the year. So that it provides bees with continuous food sources. Gardens, parks, and even urban spaces can be transformed into bee havens.
#Conservation Efforts
Beekeeping initiatives and conservation programs are essential for protecting bee populations. Supporting local beekeepers by purchasing their products. There is a local farmer who is popular on IG and sells pure honey. I forgot the name, will update later. Buy from authentic sources because you might get fooled by sugar syrup as well.
#Raising Awareness
This is crucial. By informing others about the importance of bees and the threats they face, we can build a collective effort to protect them. Schools, community groups, and social media platforms can all play a role in spreading the buzz about bees. By now, you are aware of the importance of bees, let the people also know. Kindly share it to spread awareness.
Through sustainable practices, habitat creation, and conservation efforts, we can help bees continue their essential work. Even small actions can have a big impact. By working together to protect our bee friends, we’re not just saving honey production. We’re safeguarding the very foundation of our food system. Let’s ensure that future generations can enjoy the sweet benefits of bees without the bitter sting of climate change.
Cheers!
PS: Bees day’s on May 20th.
Check out the other posts of Agriculture
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Reference
- Goulson, D., Nicholls, E., Botías, C., & Rotheray, E. L. (2015). Bee declines driven by combined stress from parasites, pesticides, and lack of flowers. Science, 347(6229), 1255957. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1255957
- Kerr, J. T., Pindar, A., Galpern, P., Packer, L., Potts, S. G., Roberts, S. M., … & Colla, S. R. (2015). Climate change impacts on bumblebees converge across continents. Science, 349(6244), 177-180. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaa7031
- Murphy, J. T., Breeze, T. D., Willcox, B., Kavanagh, S., & Stout, J. C. (2022). Globalisation and pollinators: Pollinator declines are an economic threat to global food systems. People and Nature, 4(3), 773-785. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10235
- Potts, S. G., Biesmeijer, J. C., Kremen, C., Neumann, P., Schweiger, O., & Kunin, W. E. (2010). Global pollinator declines: Trends, impacts and drivers. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 25(6), 345-353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2010.01.007
- Rader, R., Bartomeus, I., Garibaldi, L. A., Garratt, M. P. D., Howlett, B. G., Winfree, R., … & Woyciechowski, M. (2016). Non-bee insects are important contributors to global crop pollination. Science, 351(6274), 1369-1372. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aad3261
- Vanbergen, A. J., & the Insect Pollinators Initiative. (2013). Threats to an ecosystem service: Pressures on pollinators. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 11(5), 251-259. https://doi.org/10.1890/120126
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