Entry 7: 9/7/08

I shall continue on my last post.

In the June 28 issue of the Straits Times, the Straits Times reported that bees in Europe and the United States of America. According to the article, bees are not just important for the production of honey. Three-quarters of flowering plants rely on the bees and other pollinators such as birds to help them reproduce. Bee pollination alone is responsible for US$15 billion annually in crop value in the United States alone. Bees are even more important to farmers who grow almonds, citrus fruits, apples, pears and cucumbers, because the plants do not self-pollinate.

However, bee numbers are declining fast in the US and Europe. In 2006, US beekeepers reported losing 30% to 90% of their hives. This phenomenon because known as Colony Collapse Disorder. Congressman Dennis Cardoza of California revealed that without bees, there is no way for US farmers to continue growing high-quality and nutritious food that the US relies on. This was a problem they cannot ignore.

The cause of the disorder remains unknown, although the collapse of hives has been linked with Pesticides, viruses, parasites and even cellphone interference with bee navigation.

Einstein once said that without bees, the world would starve in four years. Without bees, there would be no production of honey and no external pollination of crops and stock-feed. This would undoubtedly cripple the world's economy, and cause major food shortages. This is because the bees act as important pollinators which help flowering plants to reproduce. Many of these plants can be fruits, berries or nuts, which would not grow without the bees' help. With lesser food, more people would have to go hungry. Also, animals such as bears would decrease in their numbers, which can cause their prey to overpopulate and cause an imbalance in the ecosystem. Also, predators that hunt bees might also decrease in number.

Hence, we can conclude how important bees are, regardless towards man or animals.

Sources:
The Strait Times (World)
Issue 28/6/08
Article: Where have all the bees gone?

Glossary:
Stock-feed: Plant material that is fed to livestock.