Environmental Threats to Pollinator Health and Fitness

Environmental Threats to Pollinator Health and Fitness PDF Author: Jon Harrison
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 044313250X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 358

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Book Description
Environmental Threats to Pollinator Health and Fitness, Volume 64 in the Advances in Insect Physiology series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on a variety of topics, including The threat of higher temperatures to pollinating insects, The challenge of balancing fungicide use and pollinator health, Insecticide effects on pollinating insects, Effects of invasive pathogens and parasites on pollinating insects, Heavy metal pollutants: the hidden pervasive threat to honey bees and other pollinators, Honey bee nutritional ecology: from physiology to landscapes, and more. Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors Presents the latest release in the Advances in Insect Physiology series Updated release includes the latest information on the Environmental Threats to Pollinator Health and Fitness

Environmental Threats to Pollinator Health and Fitness

Environmental Threats to Pollinator Health and Fitness PDF Author: Jon Harrison
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 044313250X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 358

Get Book Here

Book Description
Environmental Threats to Pollinator Health and Fitness, Volume 64 in the Advances in Insect Physiology series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on a variety of topics, including The threat of higher temperatures to pollinating insects, The challenge of balancing fungicide use and pollinator health, Insecticide effects on pollinating insects, Effects of invasive pathogens and parasites on pollinating insects, Heavy metal pollutants: the hidden pervasive threat to honey bees and other pollinators, Honey bee nutritional ecology: from physiology to landscapes, and more. Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors Presents the latest release in the Advances in Insect Physiology series Updated release includes the latest information on the Environmental Threats to Pollinator Health and Fitness

Status of Pollinators in North America

Status of Pollinators in North America PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309102898
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 327

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Book Description
Pollinators-insects, birds, bats, and other animals that carry pollen from the male to the female parts of flowers for plant reproduction-are an essential part of natural and agricultural ecosystems throughout North America. For example, most fruit, vegetable, and seed crops and some crops that provide fiber, drugs, and fuel depend on animals for pollination. This report provides evidence for the decline of some pollinator species in North America, including America's most important managed pollinator, the honey bee, as well as some butterflies, bats, and hummingbirds. For most managed and wild pollinator species, however, population trends have not been assessed because populations have not been monitored over time. In addition, for wild species with demonstrated declines, it is often difficult to determine the causes or consequences of their decline. This report outlines priorities for research and monitoring that are needed to improve information on the status of pollinators and establishes a framework for conservation and restoration of pollinator species and communities.

Bee Health

Bee Health PDF Author: Linda-Jo Schierow
Publisher: Createspace Independent Pub
ISBN: 9781482762693
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 30

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Book Description
Bees, both commercially managed honey bees and wild bees, play an important role in global food production. In the United States, the value of honey bees only as commercial pollinators in U.S. food production is estimated at about $15 billion to $20 billion annually. The estimated value of other types of insect pollinators, including wild bees, to U.S. food production is not available. Given their importance to food production, many have expressed concern about whether a “pollinator crisis” has been occurring in recent decades. In the United States, commercial migratory beekeepers along the East Coast of the United States began reporting sharp declines in 2006 in their honey bee colonies. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that overwinter colony losses from 2006 to 2011 averaged more than 32% annually. This issue remained legislatively active in the 110th Congress and resulted in increased funding for pollinator research, among other types of farm program support, as part of the 2008 farm bill (P.L. 110-246). Congressional interest in the health of honey bees and other pollinators has continued in the 112th Congress (e.g., H.R. 2381, H.R. 6083, and S. 3240) and may extend into the 113th Congress. This report: Describes changes in managed and wild bee populations, given readily available data and information. It focuses on managed and wild bees only, and excludes other types of pollinators, including other insects, birds, and bats. Data on managed honey bees are limited, and do not provide a comprehensive view of changes in bee populations. Data for wild bee populations are even more limited; Provides a listing of the range of possible factors thought to be negatively affecting managed and wild bee populations. In addition to pesticides, other identified factors include bee pests and diseases, diet and nutrition, genetics, habitat loss and other environmental stressors, and beekeeping management issues, as well as the possibility that bees are being negatively affected by cumulative, multiple exposures and/or the interactive effects of each of these factors; Briefly summarizes readily available scientific research and analysis regarding the potential role of pesticides among the factors affecting the health and wellbeing of bees, as well as the statutory authority and related regulatory activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) related to pesticide use. A 2007 report by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, Status of Pollinators in North America, provides a more detailed scientific context for this report and may be consulted for more in depth understanding about bee health. That study concluded that many factors contribute to pollinator declines in North America, and CRS accedes to that conclusion. Accordingly, the focus of this report on bee exposure to pesticides is not intended to imply that pesticides are any more important in influencing the health and wellness of bees than any of the other identified factors influencing bee health. Pesticides are only one of the many influences on bee health. Because neonicotinoid pesticides have been the focus of concerns in Europe and in the United States, this report briefly describes recent scientific research related to possible effects of exposure to these pesticides on bees. The report concludes with a summary of recent regulatory activity regarding neonicotinoids at EPA, the federal agency charged with assessing risks and regulating U.S. sale and use of pesticides.

Insect Pollinators in the Anthropocene: How Multiple Environmental Stressors Are Shaping Pollinator Health

Insect Pollinators in the Anthropocene: How Multiple Environmental Stressors Are Shaping Pollinator Health PDF Author: Lars Straub
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2832533175
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 115

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Book Description
There is consensus that loss of biodiversity is a defining feature of the Anthropocene, with potentially severe consequences for human food security and well-being. Of particular concern are global declines in insect pollinators, such as bees, flies, beetles and butterflies, as their roles in sustaining ecosystem functions and ensuring food production are indispensable. A wide array of abiotic and biotic stressors likely govern the observed insect declines and losses of wild and managed insect pollinators, respectively. For instance, habitat destruction and fragmentation can not only lead to smaller and isolated populations that are vulnerable to environmental stochasticity or inbreeding depression, but also lead to poor nutrition as floral abundance and diversity are reduced. Further key stressors are pests and pathogens, climate change, intensified agriculture and environmental pollution (e.g., pesticides). These environmental stressors may interact with one another and generate complex effects that amplify the direct consequences of a single given stressor. Unfortunately, there is a lack of knowledge concerning how even the most important environmental stressors may interact to affect insect pollinators. The goal of this effort is to develop a platform that brings together the latest information on how abiotic and biotic stressors interact to impact insect pollinator health. Only by bringing together different lines of evidence will we be able to better predict how these environmental stressors will affect insect pollinators. An improved understanding will also facilitate the development of more effective and sustainable management strategies that will enable stakeholders to implement adequate and sustainable measures to safeguard insect pollinators. This Research Topic welcomes both Original Research and Reviews, as well as Commentary or Opinion articles that address the topic of environmental stressor interactions, and their impact on insect pollinator health. Submissions should be based on, but not limited to: - How combined environmental stressors affect insect pollinators using molecular, physiological, behavioral, ecological or evolutionary approaches - Experimental or survey work conducted under laboratory, semi-field, or field conditions - Unravelling the mechanisms underlying combined stressor interactions - What can be done to limit the impact of combined environmental exposure in the field

Pollinators and Pollination

Pollinators and Pollination PDF Author: Jeff Ollerton
Publisher: Pelagic Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 1784272299
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 425

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Book Description
A unique and personal insight into the ecology and evolution of pollinators, their relationships with flowers, and their conservation in a rapidly changing world. The pollination of flowers by insects, birds and other animals is a fundamentally important ecological function that supports both the natural world and human society. Without pollinators to facilitate the sexual reproduction of plants, the world would be a biologically poorer place in which to live, there would be an impact on food security, and human health would suffer. Written by one of the world’s leading pollination ecologists, this book provides an introduction to what pollinators are, how their interactions with flowers have evolved, and the fundamental ecology of these relationships. It explores the pollination of wild and agricultural plants in a variety of habitats and contexts, including urban, rural and agricultural environments. The author also provides practical advice on how individuals and organisations can study, and support, pollinators. As well as covering the natural history of pollinators and flowers, the author discusses their cultural importance, and the ways in which pollinator conservation has been portrayed from a political perspective. The book draws on field work experiences in South America, Africa, Australia, the Canary Islands and the UK. For over 30 years the author has spent his career researching how plants and pollinators evolve relationships, how these interactions function ecologically, their importance for society, and how we can conserve them in a rapidly changing world. This book offers a unique and personal insight into the science of pollinators and pollination, aimed at anyone who is interested in understanding these fascinating and crucial ecological interactions.

Protecting Pollinators

Protecting Pollinators PDF Author: Jodi Helmer
Publisher:
ISBN: 161091936X
Category : Gardening
Languages : en
Pages : 234

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Book Description
We should thank a pollinator at every meal. These diminutive creatures fertilize a third of the crops we eat. Yet half of the 200,000 species of pollinators are threatened. Birds, bats, insects, and many other pollinators are disappearing, putting our entire food supply in jeopardy. Protecting Pollinators breaks down the latest science on environmental threats and takes readers inside the most promising conservation efforts. Efforts range from cities creating butterfly highways to citizen scientists monitoring migration. Along with inspiring stories of revival and lessons from failed projects, readers will find practical tips to get involved. And they will be reminded of the magic of pollinators--the iconic monarchs, dainty hummingbirds, and homely bats alike who bring food to our tables.

Bee Health

Bee Health PDF Author: Congressional Research Service
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 9781508605119
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 46

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Book Description
Over the past few decades there has been heightened concern about the plight of honey bees as well as other bee species. Given the importance of honey bees and other bee species to food production, many have expressed concern about whether a “pollinator crisis” has been occurring in recent decades. Although honey bee colony losses due to bee pests, parasites, pathogens, and disease are not uncommon, there is the perception that bee health has been declining more rapidly than in prior years, both in the United States and globally. This situation gained increased attention in 2006 as some commercial beekeepers began reporting sharp declines in their honey bee colonies. Because of the severity and unusual circumstances of these colony declines, scientists named this phenomenon colony collapse disorder (CCD). Since then, honey bee colonies have continued to dwindle each year, for reasons not solely attributable to CCD. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that CCD may not be the only or even the major cause of bee colony losses in recent years. In the United States, USDA estimates of overwinter colony losses from all causes have averaged nearly 30% annually since 2006. The precise reasons for honey bee losses are not yet known. USDA and most scientists working on the subject seem to agree that no research conclusively points to one single cause for the large number of honey bee deaths. This general conclusion was reconfirmed in a 2013 joint report by USDA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Reasons cited for bee declines include a wide range of possible factors thought to be negatively affecting pollinator species. However, one issue widely noted is the role that pesticides—in particular, neonicotinoid pesticides—might play in overall bee health. Pesticides are the focus of this report. Pesticides are among many identified factors known to affect bee health, including pests and diseases, diet and nutrition, genetics, habitat loss and other environmental stressors, and beekeeping management issues, as well as the possibility that bees are being negatively affected by cumulative, multiple exposures and/or the interactive effects of several of these factors. The focus of this report on bee exposure to pesticides is not intended to imply that pesticides are any more important in influencing the health and wellness of bees than other identified factors influencing bee health. Pesticides are one of many influences on bee health. The current state of knowledge on pesticides and bee health is summarized in the USDA-EPA report: it is not clear, based on current research, whether pesticide exposure is a major factor associated with U.S. honey bee health declines in general, or specifically affects production of honey or delivery of pollination services. It is clear, however, that in some instances honey bee colonies can be severely harmed by exposure to high doses of insecticides when these compounds are used on crops, or via drift onto flowers in areas adjacent to crops that are attractive to bees.

Bee Health

Bee Health PDF Author: Gregory Willard
Publisher: Novinka Books
ISBN: 9781536102253
Category : Bees
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Bees, both commercially managed honey bees and wild bees, play an important role in global food production. In the United States alone, the value of insect pollination to U.S. agricultural production is estimated at $16 billion annually, of which about three-fourths is attributable to honey bees. Worldwide, the contribution of bees and other insects to global crop production for human food is valued at about $190 billion. Given the importance of bees and other types of pollinators to food production, many have expressed concern about whether a pollinator crisis has been occurring in recent decades. Worldwide reports indicate that populations of both managed honey bees and native bees have been declining, with colony losses in some cases described as severe or unusual. In Europe, managed honey bee colony numbers have been declining since the mid-1960s, and individual beekeepers have reported unusual weakening and mortality in colonies, particularly during the period spanning winter through spring. According to the United Nations, many insect pollinator species may be becoming rarer, causing some to question whether this is a sign of an overall global biodiversity decline. This book examines selected U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agencies bee-related monitoring, research and outreach, as well as conservation efforts, and The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) efforts to protect bees through its regulation of pesticides.

Pollinator Partnership Action Plan (Ppap)

Pollinator Partnership Action Plan (Ppap) PDF Author: Executive Office Executive Office of the President
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781539761402
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 30

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Book Description
On behalf of the Pollinator Health Task Force, we are pleased to transmit the Pollinator Partnership Action Plan (PPAP). The PPAP responds to the President's emphasis on public-private partnerships in his June 2014 Memorandum "Creating a Federal Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators." This special focus on partnerships was reiterated in the Federal Pollinator Strategy commitment to prepare a Partnership Action Plan to amplify the many Federal actions advanced under the Presidential Memorandum through complementary state and private-sector actions. Only through such coordinated national efforts can we expeditiously expand pollinator-health initiatives to achieve the scale necessary to make meaningful and long-term improvements. In particular, Federal agencies are working with the private sector toward ways to institutionalize these changes into business models and public understanding. This reflects the growing understanding of the ecological services provided to humanity by pollinators, and the importance of all lands-even those on the margins-to providing habitat and forage for these creatures.

Why Birds Matter

Why Birds Matter PDF Author: Çagan H. Sekercioglu
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 022638277X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 398

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Book Description
For over one hundred years, ornithologists and amateur birders have jointly campaigned for the conservation of bird species, documenting not only birds’ beauty and extraordinary diversity, but also their importance to ecosystems worldwide. But while these avian enthusiasts have noted that birds eat fruit, carrion, and pests; spread seed and fertilizer; and pollinate plants, among other services, they have rarely asked what birds are worth in economic terms. In Why Birds Matter, an international collection of ornithologists, botanists, ecologists, conservation biologists, and environmental economists seeks to quantify avian ecosystem services—the myriad benefits that birds provide to humans. The first book to approach ecosystem services from an ornithological perspective, Why Birds Matter asks what economic value we can ascribe to those services, if any, and how this value should inform conservation. Chapters explore the role of birds in such important ecological dynamics as scavenging, nutrient cycling, food chains, and plant-animal interactions—all seen through the lens of human well-being—to show that quantifying avian ecosystem services is crucial when formulating contemporary conservation strategies. Both elucidating challenges and providing examples of specific ecosystem valuations and guidance for calculation, the contributors propose that in order to advance avian conservation, we need to appeal not only to hearts and minds, but also to wallets.