The Decline of the Honeybees in North America - Term Paper Example

 The Decline of the Honeybees in North America Honeybees (Apis melliera), were first introduced to North America by European settlers in 1600s. Honeybees are social animals, making it easy for their domestication by human beings but under friendly environments. When well-managed, honeybees tend to be resourceful to individual farmers and the state or the nation at large. In North America, the production of honeybee has been taken seriously for various reasons. For instance, honeybees can be commercially bred for pollination services. In this case, they help in large-scale food production in places like North America beside other wild bees. Moreover, statistics indicates that three-fourth of the annual $ 16 billion insect pollinations in the agricultural sector are caused by the commercial honeybees. The other importance is that honeybees produce honey that can be used for the production of various commodities such as medicines and sweets among others. The honeycomb can also be used to manufacture things like gum, shoeshine and candle among other industrial products. However, from the year 2006, the colony mortality was realized in North America, and this forced the American government to view critically the cause and effects of all these. Therefore, this paper will view in details some of the factors that have contributed to the reduction of the honeybees in North America as well as their consequences (Johnson and Corn, 2010). The Onset of the Decline of Honeybees: What Causes Colony Loss Since the year 2006, there has been a drastic decline in honeybee production in North America. The worrying problem, also known as “pollinator crisis” in North America has triggered several researchers in finding its cause and consequences. This unusual decline of honeybee within the colonies is what some scientists refer to as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).The Colony Collapse Disorder is quite different from other problems that farmers would experience before. It is characterized by Few or lack of dead bees in the hive; pollen and honey stores in the hive; the presence of live queen with few bees; and loss of adult worker bees among other factors. Historically, the tendency of honeybee colony loss through pathogens, pests, and parasites among other diseases was a common issue in America. It is an issue that the Americans were very familiar with and had its remedy because it was not very critical as the current phenomena of CCD. In fact, research by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has attributed this overwinter loss to other unknown factors other than CCD.1 Nevertheless, some vigorous scientific researchers have related the contemporary CCD in North America with a number of issues. In this case, diet and nutrition, pest and diseases, genetic factors and diversity, pesticides and other chemicals, environmental stress, and bee management are associated with CCD. Therefore, the contemporary research tries to view their effects on bee colony health into detail (Corn, 2014). The Role of Genetic Diversity in the Loss of Honeybees Genetic diversity has been seen as one of the major issues that scholars have attributed to the current decline in the population of colony honeybees. In this case, some scholars tend to view inbreeding as a possible contributor to the current reduction in the population of the honeybees in North America. These researchers argue that inbreeding, if not properly handled, is one of the factors that may create weak species incapable of resisting even simple diseases. Based on their knowledge of molecular ecology, the very scientists further argue that domestication of honeybees has not been handled with care. In other words, these researchers claim that honeybees have not been changed from their wild ancestors since their importation, but rather, farmers have only kept them for their products. Therefore, these scholars have strongly speculated the recent fall in the population of colony honeybees in North America as caused by the decline in genetic diversity. Moreover, the proponents of the theory of genetic diversity attribute it to the commercial practice of queen producers in North America. For instance, they argue that most large commercial queen producers in North America often raise thousands of quality queens from a single mother queen. The offspring queens are in turn mated by selected drowns from their bred areas. In this circumstance, all queens and workers in an apiary are related to some extent. Therefore, it follows that the decline in genetic variation has a possibility of causing the decline in honeybee population in North America. In this case, therefore, biologists would see the consistent inbreeding as a practice that requires change. Therefore, it would be logical if farmers can look for other species from far that can moderate the traditional species. This importation of new breeds for mating may curb the problem of inbreeding and produce species that can withstand the current ecological diseases that have arisen over a long history (Oldroyd, 2012).2 How the Continues Use of Insecticides and Farm Chemicals Are a Threat Scientists have suggested the use of systemic insecticides and farm chemicals as a possible cause of the decline in commercial bees in North America. That comes as a result of treatments administered to crops by farmers. Whether applied by spraying into the soil or drip irrigation on crops, the chemicals end up being harmful to the health of honeybees and other pollinators. In this extent, some biologists tend to analyze a possibility of translocation of chemicals from the soil through other delicate body parts of the plant such as nectar and pollen. Once the chemicals manage to reach these attractive positions, the pollinators such as bees visiting those parts during pollination may find and ingest them. For instance, the research on neonicotinoids, an insecticide with traces of imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam, reveals that they are capable of finding their ways from the soil to the nectar and even pollen. In this way, honeybees may end up ingesting them indirectly. Moreover, scientific studies on CCD have proved the existence of farm chemicals such as fungicides, insecticides and herbicides on nectar and pollen grains. That shows that, in the long run, some chemicals used in the farm may end up being consumed by the insects pollinators such as honeybees. Such chemicals that may be swallowed either directly or indirectly are seen as the possible cause of health problem of bees in the colony. In fact, these toxic chemicals may even impair the bees, dictating their behavior. Therefore, it is important that farmers practice the use environmentally friendly chemicals more so in areas where commercial bee pollination is practiced. The government should also view its policies and license only companies that produce farm chemicals that are very friendly to the environment (Stoner and Eitzer, 2012). Parasites and Pathogens as Other Dangers to Bees Parasites, pathogens, and diseases have been suggested as possible factors causing a decline in honeybee production. First, the two main parasites that scientist have identified, as the possible threat to the colony health are the vampire mite (Varroa destructor) and tracheal mite (Acarapis woodi). Tracheal mites are parasites that live within the respiratory system of adult bees where they eventually mate and a new female emerges from the old host bee. On the other hand, Vampire mites feed on the infested host, disfiguring the adult bees and even deform larvae and pupae. Vampire mites can even render female bee sterile causing danger to the rise of new bees in the colony. It should be given immediate treatment, failure to which, it may cause total destruction of a colony within the six months to a period of two years after its inversion to the apiary. Among the pathogens, paenibacillus lavea is the most dangerous parasite that attacks honeybees causing American Foulbrood (AFB), a disease that affects larval bees in the colony. Regular cleaning of the apiary and the application of antibiotics can control this disease. European foulbrood disease (EFD), bacterium disease, Melissococcus platonius is common in colonies affected by food shortage or other stressors. Amoeba disease caused by Malpighamoeba mellificae prellinfests attacks the gut of commercial bees. This disease can then be transferred to other bees in the colony. Nosema disease is common in adult bees. It is believed to be caused by a fungus (Ho and Cummins, 2007). The two types of Nosema are the Nosema Apis and the Nosema coronea that is the most common and valuable. Septicemia and Spiroplasma are a kind of bacterium disease that attacks adult bees. These two diseases destroy connective tissues and infect the bee’s blood respectively. The two mainly arise from prolonged confinement and poor feeding and may cause dysentery. Other viral diseases are black queen cell virus (BQCV), chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV), sacbrood virus (SBV) and deformed winged virus among others. Parasitic phorid fly, Apocephalus borealis, also affects bees and can cause them to discern their hives. It would, therefore, be necessary for the farmers to take proper steps that may help protect their bees earlier enough before they are infected by the various kind of diseases (Ho and Cummins, 2007). Climate Change and Environmental Condition Environmental conditions may have negative effects on the production of the honeybees. Environmental changes such as extreme weather conditions and a shift in global climate may influence honeybees in various ways.3 These varying changes to some extent may create a state of competition among the various species of bees, resulting into discomfort within their areas of existence. Here, one may realize that individual human beings and farmers are the major agents of environmental destruction leading to the drastic changes of climate. For that reason, the climatic change problem will require two methods to overcome it. Firs solution that is also a short-term solution will require that the individual bee farmers relocate to other places with favorable conditions to save the health of a colony. This relocation may work to the advantage of commercial honeybee producers who raise bees purposely for pollination and moves with them from place to place. The second action may require an individual citizen to take a positive step towards ensuring that best practices that may help preserve the environment are emulated. Although this second step may be long term, but it seems as the best and most appropriate. Moreover, it will be the responsibility of all citizens to work towards creating environmental friendly conditions that may tolerate the lives of all phenomenona (Moisset and Buchmann, 2011). Cropping Behaviors and Bee Decline The culture of extensive mono-crop farming is also seen as a major cause of the decline in honeybees. In most cases, one may realize that extensive monoculture may result in giving one kind of nutrients to the bees and, therefore, harm their health. This kind of farming is common in America where large chunks of land are planted with one kind of crop. These farmers normally end up doing commercial pollination to their crops using commercially reared honeybees. In this case, the lives of bees used for the practices of pollination are usually at danger of lacking some necessary nutrients. Therefore, it may be recommended that farmers in one region should at least grow variety of crops that may produce many kinds of pollen grains and nectar that bees may feed on selectively. The other alternative may require farmers in regions with monoculture practices to supplement their bees with balanced food to help sustain their health. Long distance transportation and shipment of honey bee colony to various destinations for either safety or pollination practices may be dangerous to their health status. This long distance transportation is common among the commercial bee farmers in America who rears bees for practices of pollination. Research reveals that some commercial bee farmers in America may end up moving across various states, covering a long distance in search of pollination services. This attempt to move long distance by bee farmers is seen as a cause of many dangers to the bee farming sector. During their transportation, bee colonies may acquire or help spread parasites and pathogens to other areas, so care should always be taken when moving the bees to various destinations. Congested Beehives Congested beehives may also expose bee colony to prolong moisture that may harm their health status. Viewed from this angle, commercial bee farmers in America should be encouraged to use well-ventilated beehives that can function under various weather conditions. If possible, then farmers should be encouraged to use well-ventilated bee hives such as top bar hives that also encourages making of sizable well ventilated honey combs. Such a lack of aerated bee hives is also viewed as a possible cause of colony mortality.4 That is because large honey combs in congested hives tend to create room for varroa mite infestation (Bianco, Cooper and Fournier, 2014). In the absence of enough nectar food or even during transportation, commercial bee farmers in America tend to supplement the diet and feed their bees on fructose syrup extracted from corn. This use of high corn fructose syrup (HFCS) also poses danger to the bee health. For instance, researchers have realized that during digestion, this food substance may react with the typical environmental condition to form toxic compound that are harmful to the bee colony. It is, therefore, healthy for the bee farmers to look for other healthy foods that they may use to supplement the nectars and pollen. That way, they may save the current honey bee mortality in North America (Bianco, Cooper and Fournier, 2014). Other Contributing Factors The interaction between different factors (Synergetic effects) may also contribute to the colony mortality. Practical examples come when various medicines or farm chemicals are applied for the treatment of various crops in the fields where bees are taken for pollination. The second case arises when various medicines are administered in the colony to treat some known diseases.5 In theses two case, the chemicals may combine and become dangerous than would have happened with one single chemical. This additive interaction may weaken the immune system of the honeybees, making them vulnerable to some disease-causing organisms. Such situation, therefore, would require individual farmers to analyze the various chemicals that they use lest their bees be affected. Even so, the farmers should also seek advice on how to mix their farm chemicals from trained personnel (Bianco, Cooper and Fournier, 2014). Impact of the Decline of Honeybees in America Analytically, the decline in the population of honeybees in North America has had a negative effect in the field of agriculture since the year 2006. Prior to those periods, researchers had the economic value of bee pollination roughly at $ 15 billion annually with quality output in tees nuts, vegetable and fruits among other crops. However, there have been notable claims of reduction in crop yield in areas where bee is the main pollinator. In such areas, farmers have to rely on the pollination done by wild bees and other pollinators, a factor that may depend on issues like land topography and geographical proximity. Therefore, the decline in commercial bees may render their agriculture useless. Viewed critically, the reduction in the population of mobile bees domesticated purposely for pollination may increase the economic production cost of some agricultural crops. That is possible among farmers with crops that can only be pollinated with bees. Such farmers may be forced to look for bees, even at a higher cost so that they may maximize their production (Oldroyd, 2012). Another danger posed by the decline in honey bee pollinator in North America is the demise of some species of flowering plants. Mostly, flowering plants that can only be visited and be pollinated by bees because of either their scent or other factors may suffer greatly. This may eventually lead to the loss of their co-dependant pollinators that specialize in them. The decline may also be associated with the limitation in seed output, as most plant shall not have been attended to due to lack of visitation by the pollinators, bees. However, the problem posed by the decline of the fall in the population of honey been in the agricultural sector is one that farmers can solve. For instance, the agricultural sector in North America would have to start and even encourage farmers to learn the use other means of pollination other than bees. In fact, the use of variety in pollination practices should be encouraged because it may act as security in case of any failure from one side (Oldroyd, 2012). Conclusion In summary, the drastic fall in production of honeybee in North America is a problem caused by multiple factors other than one. Therefore, different stakeholders to arrive at an amicable solution should address proper solution to these interconnected effects to the decline of honeybee colony. In fact, individual farmers, through state and even the national institutions, should address this problem at farm field level. Lastly, the main aim of any prescribed solution to the current decline in honeybees should be a creation of a friendly environment for bee farming. References Bianco, M., Cooper, J., and Fournier, M. (2014). Honey Bee Population Decline in Michigan: Causes, Consequences, and Responses to Protect the State’s Agriculture and Food System. Retrieved from: http://mjpa.umich.edu/files/2014/08/2014- BiancoCooperFournier-HoneyBee.pdf Ho, M., and Cummins, J. (2007). Mystery of Disappearing Honeybees. Retrieved from: http://www.i-sis.org.uk/MysteryOfDisappearingHoneybees.php Johnson, R. (2010). Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder. Retrieved from: https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33938.pdf Johnson, R., and Corn, M.L. (2014). Bee Health: Background and Issues for Congress. Accessed from: https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43191.pdf Moisset, B., and Buchman, S. (2011). Bee Basics: An Introduction to Our Native Bees. Retrieved from: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5306468.pdf Oldroyd, B. P. (2012). Domestication of honeybees was associated with expansion of genetic diversity. Molecular Ecology, 21(18), 4409-4411. Stoner, K. A., & Eitzer, B. D. (2012). Movement of Soil-Applied Imidacloprid and Thiamethoxam into Nectar and Pollen of Squash (Cucurbita pepo). Plos ONE, 7(6), 1-5. Read More