Bee Activity and Agricultural Pollination FURKAN OZEDIRNE WRITING 10, SECTION APRIL 2015

Just How Important are Bees? Responsible for producing over 90 commercially grown crops Contribute more that $24 billion to the U.S. economy Native Bees in the U.S. are valued at over $9 billion

How will Bees Affect Merced and California as a Whole? Farming is integral to the economy of the Central Valley

How will Bees Affect Merced and California as a Whole? Merced is one of the largest supplier of almonds worldwide and is solely pollinated by bees. Estimates for the economical impact of California's almond industry: ◦$7.3 billion gross income for almond growers in the Central Valley ◦$11 billion to state economy ◦104,000 jobs through “ripple effect”

Why Are Bees in Trouble? ◦Managed Honey Bee colonies have decreased from 5 million in the 1940s to only 2.5 million today ◦Colony Collapse Disorder ◦Phenomenon where there is a dead colony with no adult bees or dead bee bodies but with a live queen and usually honey and immature bees still present. ◦Pathogens ◦Parasites ◦Environmental Stressors

Pathogens Proven relationship between pathogens and bees abandoning their colonies. Commercial greenhouses have higher pathogen infection rates. Example: C. bombi ◦Intestinal pathogen that reduces colony productivity by 40% and individual bee survivability by 50%

Parasites Varroa Mites ◦Responsible for the world-wide death of millions of mite invested honey bee colonies.

Environmental Stressors Climate Change ◦Bees thrive in a specific temperature range and going above or below that range can and is currently effecting colony productivity and survivability.

Environmental Stressors Agrochemicals (e.g. pesticides and herbicides) ◦Agrochemical intensification has resulted in habitat degradation within agricultural areas. ◦641 million pound increase from 1994 to 2007

How Can the Bee Population Recover? Sustainable Farming Techniques ◦Insect Farming ◦Providing nesting sites and materials for native bees Government Legislation

Insect Farming Done by introducing strips of wildflowers or other flowering crops throughout farms

Insect Farming: Farmer Richard Rant’s Story Allowed researchers to introduce wildflowers throughout his blueberry farm Resulted in the accumulation of bees and other pollinators New pollinators acted as natural pest repellent Reduced pesticide use by 80% Decreased use of rented beekeepers, saving around $6,000 annually

Providing Nesting Sites and Materials for Native Bees Placing nesting boxes and foliage to attract native bees Cheap, practical solution

Increased Government Legislation on Pesticide Regulation Problems with scientific testing of new pesticides ◦Oversight ◦Need to move away from old methodological frameworks ◦Error in the way field studies for risk assessment are conducted ◦Unrealistic simulation of farming conditions

Quick Recap