Colony Collapse Disorder Why should we care about the loss of honey bees? By Adam Formica, Rowan Finnegan,Rachel Goodman Left: Right:

Definition and Causes IAPV Varroa mite Pesticides Stress Image: Table: vanEngelsdorp, Dennis, Hayes, Jerry Jr., Underwood, Robyn M., and Jerry Pettis. (2008, December 30). A Survey of Honey Bee Colony Losses in the U.S., Fall 2007 to Spring PlosOne 3(12), Article e4071.

Decline in and Value of Honeybees Long-term decline since 1950s Industry in decline Natural pollinators in decline CCD exacerbates downward trend in 2006 Honeybees contribute to 1/3 of the food we eat McGregor, S.E Insect Pollinations of Cultivated Crop Plants. US Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 496. “ The Value of the World ’ s Ecosystem Services and Natural Capital ” Service of pollination valued at $117 billion worldwide

Decline of Colonies in the US Source: Honey, February, 2007, Agricultural Statistics Board, NASS, USDA,

Bees in the Context of Ecosystems European honeybee colonies brought to Americas in the 16th Century Few bee species used for pollination in intensive agriculture – Apis mellifera Bees one of over a 100,000 species that pollinate flowers – bats, birds, insects etc. Wild bee species absent in wall-to-wall agriculture because of habitat loss Restructuring Agriculture/Conservation Planning: mosaic farms, hedgerows, insectary strips, multi- cropping

Commercial Beekeeping Mono-Cropping Organic FarmBat Pollination

Economic Impact Estimates range from two to four hundred billion. The journal of Ecological Economics placed the value of pollination services at 153 billion 1 (~$228 billion). 200 countries, based on the FAO 100 primary food crops used for human consumption. 87 crops are pollinator dependent with different dependence ratios The true impact is difficult to assess due to the scope of the impact and difficult correlations. Feed crops -Alfalfa Plants used for Ethanol