Monday, January 11, 2016

Mass Bee Die-Offs Threaten U.S. Crops

Mass Bee Die-Offs Threaten U.S. Crops

By Joshua A. Krisch
www.vocativ.com
12-22-15


Wild bees are in decline due to habitat destruction and climate change. Here's how the loss of those key pollinators may impact our favorite crops

     Bees are in trouble. One in 10 wild bee species faces extinction in Europe, and another U.S. species may soon be declared endangered. Now, scientists are abuzz after a new study in PNAS offers even more sobering news: Wild bees declined in 23 percent of the contiguous U.S. between 2008 and 2013, and the absence of those key pollinators could threaten nearly 40 percent of U.S. crops.

And as bee populations dwindle, these are the crops most likely to be affected:

Crops Most Effected By Bee Shortage

We know bees are in decline and we know that losing pollinators is bad for crops. But until recently, the finer points remained a mystery. “It’s clear that pollinators are in trouble,” said Taylor Ricketts, biologist at the University of Vermont and coauthor of the study, in a prepared statement. “But what’s been less clear is where they are in the most trouble—and where their decline will have the most consequence for farms and food.” [...]



1 comment :

  1. Yeah, yeah...this is JUST like Global Warming...a DIRE emergency that we've been getting warned over for years. The disaster NEVER comes...

    ReplyDelete

Dear Contributor,

Your comments are greatly appreciated, and coveted; however, blatant mis-use of this site's bandwidth will not be tolerated (e.g., SPAM etc).

Additionally, healthy debate is invited; however, ad hominem and or vitriolic attacks will not be published, nor will "anonymous" criticisms. Please keep your arguments "to the issues" and present them with civility and proper decorum. -FW

LIVE SIGHTING REPORTS BY MUFON

Mutual UFO Network Logo