Bee Extinction is Too Close for Comfort
In a new report, "Pollinators in Peril: A Systematic Status Review of North American and Hawaiian Native Bees," by Kelsey Kopec of the Center for Biological Diversity, the author exposes the facts plainly: honeybees are in severe trouble. There is not getting around that the cause of bee decline is mainly anthropogenic. And, if people don't take decisive action on a large scale right now to protect them, our pollinators will continue to decline until they are not to be found anywhere both on the continental United States and Hawaii.
There is data for 1,437 bee species out of a total of 4,337 native bee species thought to be viable in North America. Research indicates that more than half of these species, around 749, are declining. Of those in decline, 347 are considered to be imperiled. The widespread decline of bee species are attributable directly to habitat loss, heavy pesticide use, climate change and urbanization.
Kopec quantifies that more than 90% of American's natural grasslands have been lost. These natural biomes have been replaced with monocultures that do not provide enough crop diversity to provide bees with adequate nutrition. Pesticides also cause a huge problem for bees. Some of the damage caused by pesticide use include: "depressed fitness, reduced brood reading, and reduced female production."1 According to David Huber, Professor Emeritus of Microbiology at Purdue University, glyphosate "makes it difficult for plants to absorb micronutrients...(and) the honeybees suffer from collecting nectar and pollen from crops and wildflowers deficient in micronutrients." 2 Huber goes on to say that honeybees also lose access to beneficial microorganisms because glyphosate acts like an antibiotic. Without beneficial bacteria, honeybees can't digest nectar and lose their immune systems. Anthony Samsel, a research scientist, goes on to say that glyphosate causes memory loss in bees.
The Center for Biological Diversity Report makes it clear that immediate and substantial actions must be taken to preserve and increase natural ecosystems that support pollinators. Pesticides like glyphosate must be abandoned now and America must wean itself off of its addiction to corn and soy cash crops. To save bees, humanity must return to a sane agricultural system and make spaces for pollinators in cities.
Notes:
1. Kopec, K., (2017) "Pollinators in Peril: A Systemic Status Review of North American and Hawaiian Native Bees." as viewed at https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/native_pollinators/pdfs/Pollinators_in_Peril.pdf
2. Valliantos, Evangelos (2017) "Why Honeybees Don't Have a Chance In the Midst of Pesticides." Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/why-honeybees-dont-have-a-chance-in-the-midst-of-pesticides_us_58c1ec02e4b0c3276fb7831c
