Mexican populations, for instance, were four times more likely to be extinct than ones in Canada. Low-altitude populations are also losing ground.
Biologists have argued that if Earth’s climate warms, whole ecosystems would begin moving into what had been cooler zones. While there has been evidence for several plant species that such a shifting may have begun (SN: 6/18/94, p.399), Parmesan says those data came from only a fraction of each species’ global population. Establishing a true shift requires canvassing the entire range of a plant or animal-which she has now done for Edith’s checkerspot. LINK
When I heard a couple of years ago about “colony collapse disorder” among honey bees I was concerned, but again, threw it into the back of my mind, assured that our scientists would figure it out and all would be OK. After all, there has to be bees, doesn’t there? Well, evidently that isn’t quite true, and if our entomologists don’t figure out something soon, the impact to American, and eventually the world’s agriculture could be disastrous! Who would have dreamed to read an article like this ten years ago?
Disappearing bees threaten ice cream sellersPremium maker Haagen-Dazs says vanishing bee colonies in the U.S. could mean fewer flavors and high prices.
By Parija B. Kavilanz, CNNMoney.com senior writer
February 17 2008: 12:43 PM ESTNEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) —
Haagen-Dazs is warning that a creature as small as a honeybee could become a big problem for the premium ice cream maker’s business.
At issue is the disappearing bee colonies in the United States, a situation that continue to mystify scientists and frighten foodmakers.
That’s because, according to Haagen-Dazs, one-third of the U.S. food supply - including a variety of fruits, vegetables and even nuts - depends on pollination from bees.Haagen-Dazs, which is owned by Nestle, said bees are actually responsible for 40% of its 60 flavors - such as strawberry, toasted pecan and banana split. MORE
The financial impact of “Colony Collapse Disorder” is only now beginning to show its ugly face, and besides lower crop yields and the eventual disappearance of some of our fruits and vegetables - the financial burden that this “Act of God” will eventually cost the American consumer could easily rise into the billions of dollars:
The dangers of declining bee populations
Honey Bee colonies are disappearing all over the world, and scientist have not pinpointed a cause. Commercial Beekeepers are seeing their hives drop at alarming rates. The West Coast has reportedly lost sixty percent of its commercial bee population and an estimated seventy percent on the East Coast.
This should not be taken lightly, we need the bees to pollinate our crops. A Cornell University study has estimated that honeybees annually pollinate over fourteen billion dollars worth of seed and crops (Mostly fruits, vegetables, and nuts) in the United States alone. That works out to one-third of the nation’s food supply.
They have come up with a name for what is happening Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) occurs when a hive’s inhabitants suddenly disappear, leaving only queens, eggs and a few immature workers.
The vanished bees are never found, but thought to die singly far from home. This problem has been identified in 24 states all over the country.
In response, some farming expert from several universities and states have formed an emergency working group to study the disease. As of now, scientists only know two things for sure; The main symptom has been mass abandonment of hives, typically finding only a Queen and a few attendants left with no trace of the other bees. Not even their bodies. And, the variety of fungi, viruses and mites found in collapsing hives suggests a widespread failure of bee’s immune systems. MUCH MORE
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