Bee Pollination In Agricultural Ecosystems
by Rosalind James /
2008 / English / PDF
2.6 MB Download
For many agricultural crops, bees play a vital role as pollinators,
and this book discusses the interplay among bees, agriculture, and
the environment. Although honey bees are well recognized as
pollinators, managed bumble bees and solitary bees are also
critical for the successful pollination of certain crops, while
wild bees provide a free service. As bees liberally pass pollen
from one plant to the next, they also impact the broader ecosystem,
and not always to the benefit of humankind. Bees can enhance the
unintentional spread of genes from genetically engineered plants,
and may increase the spread of invasive weeds. Conversely,
genetically engineered plants can impact pollinators, and invasive
weeds can supply new sources of food for these insects. Bees'
flower-visiting activities also can be exploited to help spread
biological control agents that control crop pests, and they are
important for native plant reproduction. Managing bees for
pollination is complex and the factors that must be taken into
consideration are treated here, including bee natural history,
physiology, pathology, and behavior. Furthermore, transporting bees
from native ranges to new areas for pollination services can be
controversial, and needs to be done only after assuring that it
will not disrupt various ecosystems. Even though bees are small,
unobtrusive creatures, they play large roles in the ecosystem. The
connection between bees and humankind also is symbolic of a broader
interconnection between humans and the natural world.
For many agricultural crops, bees play a vital role as pollinators,
and this book discusses the interplay among bees, agriculture, and
the environment. Although honey bees are well recognized as
pollinators, managed bumble bees and solitary bees are also
critical for the successful pollination of certain crops, while
wild bees provide a free service. As bees liberally pass pollen
from one plant to the next, they also impact the broader ecosystem,
and not always to the benefit of humankind. Bees can enhance the
unintentional spread of genes from genetically engineered plants,
and may increase the spread of invasive weeds. Conversely,
genetically engineered plants can impact pollinators, and invasive
weeds can supply new sources of food for these insects. Bees'
flower-visiting activities also can be exploited to help spread
biological control agents that control crop pests, and they are
important for native plant reproduction. Managing bees for
pollination is complex and the factors that must be taken into
consideration are treated here, including bee natural history,
physiology, pathology, and behavior. Furthermore, transporting bees
from native ranges to new areas for pollination services can be
controversial, and needs to be done only after assuring that it
will not disrupt various ecosystems. Even though bees are small,
unobtrusive creatures, they play large roles in the ecosystem. The
connection between bees and humankind also is symbolic of a broader
interconnection between humans and the natural world.
