Back in October, we reported on the decline of honeybees, and the negative impact of their dropping numbers.
Now, scientists are talking about the decline of bumblebees, which could have devastating impacts on plant and crop pollination.
According to scientists, this drop in bumblebee population numbers is likely due to disease, as well as “low genetic diversity” in bee populations.
Given the fact that bees pollinate around 90% of commercial plants in the world, we REALLY hope that something can be done about this.
Here’s entomologist Sydney Cameron on the subject:
“Pollinator decline has become a worldwide issue, raising increasing concerns over impacts on global food production, stability of pollination services, and disruption of plant-pollinator networks. In accordance with the goals of the United Nations convention on biological diversity to reduce the rate of species loss by 2010, such efforts to elucidate the causes and ecological impacts of bumble bee decline, in co-ordination with informed conservation strategies, will go a long way to mitigating further losses.”
Come back to us, bumblebees! We forgive you for stinging us, bbs!