[ad_1]
American bumblebees have disappeared in eight states amid declining populations for decades. Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Idaho, North Dakota, Wyoming and Oregon have lost their bumblebees due to a growing trend that has reduced the once ubiquitous pollinator to its former glory. Scientists estimate that the population has declined by 89 percent over the previous twenty years.
And it only gets worse. In the Midwest, their numbers fell by 50 percent, and in northern Illinois, nearly three quarters disappeared. New York may add its name to the list of states that have completely lost the insect, where the number has decreased by 99 percent. The American bumblebee, which was once the most common in the country, is now on the brink of extinction.
This is why some want to include them on the Endangered Species List.
Race to the defense before the bumblebees are gone forever
In response to the alarming data, the conservation group hopes to curb the downward trend with federal action. A joint effort by the Center for Biological Diversity and the Bombus Pollinator Association of Albany Law School law students has petitioned the American bumblebee to be included on the Endangered Species List.
Earlier this year, the US Fish and Wildlife Service conducted a preliminary 90-day review, concluding that such a proposal deserves attention. Now the next phase will be a period of close observation and analysis of one year. During this time, the service assesses various threats to existence and makes a final decision. Jess Tyler, a CBD scientist, said in a statement, “To survive uncontrolled threats of disease, habitat loss and pesticide poisoning, American bumblebees need the full protection of the Endangered Species Act right now.”
Currently, no laws protect the American bumblebee, despite its precipitous decline. There are currently two types of bumblebees under ESA protection: the rusty, spotted bumblebee and the Franklin bumblebee.
Biologists who have witnessed the disappearance of bumblebees have discovered many reasons that negatively affect populations. These range from pesticide use to competition with non-native species to climate change. As the globe warms up, the American bumblebee, with its round body covered in fluffy fur, is struggling to adapt. They were originally created for colder environments, but higher temperatures affect their nesting and mating ability.
However, the most harmful can be the use of pesticides. The CBD noted that the states with the largest decline in pesticide consumption also saw the largest increases. Neonicotinoids spreading through crops interfere with the homing system of bees. In addition, pesticides affect their ability to communicate with other bees through their unique dances, as well as weaken their immune systems, making them more vulnerable to various parasites.
If the American bumblebee reaches endangered status, such pesticides will be subject to huge fines of $ 13,000 if found to be disruptive to local communities.
What happens if American bumblebees disappear?
The role of the American bumblebee in its ecosystem as an important pollination vector serves a wide variety of plants and animals. It is a vital part of agriculture, contributing to the pollination of both wildflowers and crops. Globally, insects pollinate more than a third of all crops, of which the American bumblebee makes a significant contribution. They have established themselves as the best pollinators for berries, zucchini and tomatoes.
While many species adapt to climate change by migrating north, where temperatures are warmer than their habitable range, the American bumblebee is unable to reclaim new territory. Instead, his range has narrowed significantly. A 2015 study found that the loss of range was over 180 miles, limiting their ability to pollinate vast tracts of land.
The study’s lead author Jeremy Kerr, a biologist at the University of Ottawa, said: “Global warming may be the threat that will make many of them disappear forever.”
While the exact consequences remain unknown, if American bumblebees are completely extinct, agriculture, as well as the diversity and range of many wild plants, will undoubtedly suffer. The agricultural chain depends on bumblebee species to maintain the annual harvest cycle. The recession in Europe echoes the recession in the United States, making the history of the American bumblebee a more serious problem as a microcosm.
The decline in cherry, apple and blueberry cultivation in recent years already shows the impact of declining bee populations. Other crops such as coffee, almonds and cocoa are pollinated by bees. Former director of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, José Graziano da Silva, suggests that a world without bees will also lose these crops. “The absence of bees and other pollinators will destroy coffee, apples, almonds, tomatoes and cocoa, just to name a few of the crops that depend on pollination,” he said in a statement.
With protected status, it may be that the future of the American bumblebee will be brighter than its present, but that will require radical changes in how humans interact not only with buzzing black and yellow insects, but also with their environment.
[ad_2]
Source link