Bee population decline

Over the past century, there has been a radical and unprecedented population decline of bees. As the primary pollinators of both wild plants and cultivated crops, bees are essential to global agriculture.

Potential causes

One possible cause the infestation of parasites, namely Varroa mites (Varroa destructor). These mites attach to the bee and drain the bee of its lymph-like body fluid,[1] dehydrating the bee which results in a suppressed immune system and an increased risk to disease. In addition, the mites leave an open wound on the bee, allowing viruses such as deformed wing virus, acute bee paralysis virus,[2] and many other potentially lethal diseases to easy infect and dominate the bee due to its already weak immune system.

The most commonly known potential cause of decline is pesticides. Neonicotinoids, a class of nicotine-like pesticides, are believed to have several negative effects on bees. These pesticides act as a neurotoxin to bees, disrupting their ability to remember floral locations, their home location, and the ability to communicate floral locations.[3] In addition, neonicotinoids are believed to result in a decline of the queen bees’ life span in colonies. This causes stress on worker bees to almost constantly raise a queen bee, leading them to try and forage while too young and to often die from this dangerous task.[4]

Perhaps the most confounding possible cause is colony collapse disorder, where a colony of worker bees suddenly abandons their hive along with their queen bee and a few nurse bees.[5] What makes this phenomenon even more confusing is the lack of bee corpses found around the hive.

Effects of decline

From 1945 to 2005, bee colonies have decreased from around 6,000,000 colonies to less than 3,000,000 colonies.[6] Bees pollinate around 70% of the world’s crops, and on average, about one in every three bites of food humans consume has been pollinated by a bee.[7] If the bees were to die out, pollination rates would plummet, likely resulting in less food and skyrocketing market prices.

Potential solutions

One of the most important possible solutions is the development of sustainable agriculture practices. A relatively new research field in biopesticides is an essential in keeping that balance between providing crops for the human race while preventing harm to bee populations. Researchers are already developing a biopesticide derived from the venom of the Australian funnel web spider in order to make it accessible to farmers to use on a large scale.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Guzmán-Novoa, E.; Eccles, L.; Calvete, Y.; McGowan, J.; Kelley, P.; Correa-Benítez, A. (2009). "Varroa destructor is the main culprit for the death and reduced populations of overwintered honey bee colonies in Ontario, Canada". Apidologie 41 (4): 443–450. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  2. ↑ Rennich, K.; Pettis, J.; Eversole, H. "National Honey Bee Pests and Diseases Survey Report" (PDF). United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  3. ↑ Grossman, E. "Declining Bee Populations Pose A Threat to Global Agriculture". Yale Environment 360. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  4. ↑ Salleh, A. (10 February 2015). "Stressed Young Bees May Cause Colony Collapse". ABC Science. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  5. ↑ Grossman, E. "Declining Bee Populations Pose A Threat to Global Agriculture". Yale Environment 360. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  6. ↑ Sinnathamby, S.; Assefa, Y.; Granger, A.; Tabor, L.; Douglas-Mankin, K. (2013). "Pollinator Decline: US Agro-Socio-Economic Impacts and Responses". Journal of Natural and Environmental Sciences 4: 1–13.
  7. ↑ Grossman, E. "Declining Bee Populations Pose A Threat to Global Agriculture". Yale Environment 360. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  8. ↑ "Aussie Spider Venom May Save Honeybees". ABC Science. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
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