Ecology
Treats of honey-bees ecology
Martin Dedinsky SCI 215 Enviromental Science
Katarina Tuharska
Research Paper February 26, 2010 It’s technically impossible to replace honey-bees as most important pollinators on earth. Pollination is service provided by insects and other small animals. Also Honey-bees distribute pollen among plants of the same species. This function of ecosystem could not be imitated by any jet invented technology. Plants allure honey-bees on nectar stored in flowers. By sucking nectar from the flower, honey-bees also collect pollen on their lower body hair. For enough nectar supplies honey-bees must visit many flowers in the same area. Rudy Scheibner who is Extension Entomologist said that “When the bee visits the next flower, some of that pollen brushes off onto the flower and if it sticks to the stigma (female reproductive part) of the flower, pollination will take place.”(Scheibner, 1999) This natural way provides reproduction of almost all plants and cannot be replaced by other options. According to Ingram, Nabhan and Buchman, 90 percent of all fauna on earth and 35% of agricultural crops are being reproduced by honey-bees and other small animals. Also farmers realized importance of honey-bees so they keep bee-hives near agricultural fields. “Effective pollination on fields may also increase field’s productivity. Cotton harvests, for example, could increase by as much as 20% if the flowers were fully pollinated by bees, and farm income could potentially increase.“ (Ingram, Nabhan & Buchman., 1996) Honey-bees are disturbed by many impacts of human activity. Disturbed honey-bees may loose their most important ecological function due to some human activities. Honey-bees need their space with clean air, enough food sources. Human activity in some places has effect on many bee species. Frequent human activity in endangered areas may completely destroy habitat of some bee species.
Martin Dedinsky SCI 215 Enviromental Science
Katarina Tuharska
Research Paper February 26, 2010 It’s technically impossible to replace honey-bees as most important pollinators on earth. Pollination is service provided by insects and other small animals. Also Honey-bees distribute pollen among plants of the same species. This function of ecosystem could not be imitated by any jet invented technology. Plants allure honey-bees on nectar stored in flowers. By sucking nectar from the flower, honey-bees also collect pollen on their lower body hair. For enough nectar supplies honey-bees must visit many flowers in the same area. Rudy Scheibner who is Extension Entomologist said that “When the bee visits the next flower, some of that pollen brushes off onto the flower and if it sticks to the stigma (female reproductive part) of the flower, pollination will take place.”(Scheibner, 1999) This natural way provides reproduction of almost all plants and cannot be replaced by other options. According to Ingram, Nabhan and Buchman, 90 percent of all fauna on earth and 35% of agricultural crops are being reproduced by honey-bees and other small animals. Also farmers realized importance of honey-bees so they keep bee-hives near agricultural fields. “Effective pollination on fields may also increase field’s productivity. Cotton harvests, for example, could increase by as much as 20% if the flowers were fully pollinated by bees, and farm income could potentially increase.“ (Ingram, Nabhan & Buchman., 1996) Honey-bees are disturbed by many impacts of human activity. Disturbed honey-bees may loose their most important ecological function due to some human activities. Honey-bees need their space with clean air, enough food sources. Human activity in some places has effect on many bee species. Frequent human activity in endangered areas may completely destroy habitat of some bee species.
References: Alison B., (May, 2008). LAST FLIGHT OF THE HONEYBEE? The Guardian (London), Retrieved March 2, 2010 from Lexis-Nexis online database Cane, J. H., V. J. Tepedino. (2001). Causes and extent of declines among native North American invertebrate pollinators: detection, evidence, and consequences. Conservation Ecology 5(1), Retrieved March 2, 2010 from http://www.consecol.org/vol5/iss1/art1/ Ecological Society of America. (August, 2008). Saving our bees: Ecologists assess the impact of people on pollinators. Retrieved March 1, 2010 from http://www.physorg.com/news137042201.html Ingram M., Nabhan G., Buchmann.S. (December, 1996). Our Forgotten Pollinators: Protecting the Birds and Bees. Global Pesticide Campaigner, 6 (4). Retrieved March 2, 2010 from http://www.pmac.net/birdbee.htm Lewis N. ( n.d.). Honeybee Ecology. Retrieved March 2, 2010 from http://www.vegetus.org/honey/ecology.htm Mmegi. (October, 2009). Botswana; Danger in Mobile Phone Communication Towers. Retrieved March 2, 2010 from Lexis-Nexis online database Scheiber R. (January, 1999). Pollination of Plants by Insect. Retrieved March 2, 2010 from http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/ythfacts/allyr/pollinat.htm