Bees are incredibly important to life on Earth. Some people even say that if bees go extinct, humans might be next. With bee populations dropping dramatically, should we be worried? What would happen if all the bees disappeared?
Bees have a special relationship with plants that produce flowers. Flowers are bright and smell nice to attract bees. When bees visit these flowers, their fuzzy bodies pick up pollen from the male part of the plant and transfer it to the female part. This process is crucial because it helps produce about 70% of the fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts we eat every day. This pollination work by bees is worth nearly $200 billion in global agriculture!
Many bees are raised by beekeepers to help pollinate crops. But since 2006, a strange thing called colony collapse disorder has been happening. Bees are mysteriously leaving their hives, and beekeepers have reported losing up to 90% of their bees.
There are several reasons why this might be happening. Some colonies are affected by mites, viruses, and parasites. But a lot of attention is on a type of insecticide called neonicotinoids. These chemicals are meant to kill pests that eat crops, but they also harm bees. When bees eat nectar with these chemicals, it affects their nervous system, causing confusion and disorientation. Other factors like cold winters, lack of genetic diversity, and less variety in nectar could also be contributing to the problem.
If bees keep disappearing, it could disrupt entire food chains. For example, almond plants rely on bees for pollination. Almond hulls are used to feed farm animals like cattle and chickens. Fewer bees mean fewer almonds, leading to less livestock feed and ultimately less milk, cheese, eggs, and meat. Almonds are also used in many food products like cereal and baked goods.
Bees also pollinate coffee plants, so without them, we might not have coffee. Our diets could become limited to foods like corn, wheat, and rice, which don’t rely on bees for pollination. Cotton, a major crop in the U.S., would be affected too, impacting products like jeans, towels, and paper. In short, a world without bees would be very different and economically challenging.
While humans might not go extinct without bees, their absence would have serious consequences for our world. It’s important to understand the role bees play and work towards protecting them.
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Research the process of pollination and its importance to ecosystems and agriculture. Create a presentation to share with the class, highlighting how bees contribute to this process and the potential impacts if bees were to disappear.
Design a bee-friendly garden that includes a variety of plants known to attract bees. Explain why each plant was chosen and how it supports bee health. Share your design with the class and discuss how such gardens can help support local bee populations.
Participate in a class debate on the use of neonicotinoids and other pesticides. Research both sides of the argument and prepare to discuss the pros and cons of pesticide use in agriculture, focusing on its impact on bees and food production.
Write a short story or essay imagining a world where bees have gone extinct. Describe the changes in daily life, agriculture, and the economy. Share your story with classmates and discuss the potential real-world implications.
Develop a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of bees and how to protect them. Create posters, social media posts, or a short video to educate others about the threats bees face and actions that can be taken to help preserve bee populations.
Bees play a crucial role on Earth, and some even claim that if they go extinct, humanity would be next. With the dramatic decline in bee populations, should we be worried? What happens if the bees all die? Simply put, if a plant produces a flower, you can bet that bees help them reproduce. This longstanding relationship evolved with flowers being bright and fragrant to attract bees, and the bees’ fuzzy, velcro-like bodies helping them efficiently transfer pollen from the male part of the plant to the female part. This seemingly simple mechanism is directly responsible for the production of 70% of the fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts we consume daily, which translates into almost $200 billion in global agricultural revenue.
This huge responsibility is accomplished by droves of commercial bees reared by professional beekeepers for the sole purpose of being transported to farms or orchards to pollinate crops. However, since 2006, these hardworking bees have been mysteriously disappearing. This phenomenon, known as colony collapse disorder, has seen an average of one-third of commercial bees abandoning their hives. In fact, some beekeepers have reported that up to 90% of their bees have simply vanished.
In some colonies, mites, viruses, and parasites have been to blame, but many are now looking at a class of insecticides called neonicotinoids. This neurotoxin is used to kill off crop-eating insects and pests, but it also affects the central nervous system of bees when they consume contaminated nectar. Since nectar is brought back to the hive, the entire colony can be affected, leading to mass confusion and disorientation. Other factors, such as extreme cold during long winters, a lack of genetic diversity in commercial bees, and less variable nectar in the fields, may also contribute to the decline.
If the trend continues, entire food chains and webs may be at risk. Take almond plants, for example; the hulls of these nuts are used as feed for farm cattle and chickens. Fewer bees mean fewer almonds, which could lead to declining livestock and ultimately less milk, cheese, eggs, and meat production. Not to mention, almonds are used in cereal, baking, and many other food products. Beef and dairy cows would also be harshly affected by the vanishing alfalfa fields, which are used to harvest hay for cattle.
Considering bees pollinate coffee plants, we could find ourselves without coffee as well. Without bees, our diets would consist mostly of corn, wheat, and rice, as they are wind-pollinated plants. Additionally, cotton, the biggest cash crop in the U.S., makes up about 35% of the world’s fiber use, affecting products like blue jeans, towels, mattresses, and high-quality paper products. Simply put, we would be living in a completely different world without bees, suffering a substantial economic strain from their disappearance.
While we may not necessarily go extinct, a world without the buzz of bees would definitely have significant consequences.
If you’re interested in learning more, you can get a free copy of our new book from Audible, the leading provider of audiobooks with over 150,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature. Our book just came out this past week and covers many questions that have never been answered in our videos. You can download it or another audiobook of your choice for free at audible.com/asap. Special thanks to Audible for making these videos possible and to you for continually supporting our show and science education. It means a lot! If you missed our live science stream last week, where we performed the periodic table song live and answered your burning questions, be sure to check it out or subscribe for more weekly science videos.
Bees – Insects that are vital for pollinating plants and flowers, helping in the production of fruits and seeds. – Bees play a crucial role in the ecosystem by pollinating many of the plants that provide us with food.
Pollination – The process by which pollen is transferred from the male part of a plant to the female part, enabling fertilization and the production of seeds. – Without pollination, many plants would not be able to produce the fruits and seeds that are essential for food and agriculture.
Flowers – The reproductive structures of flowering plants, often colorful and fragrant, that attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. – Flowers are not only beautiful but also essential for the reproduction of many plant species.
Agriculture – The practice of cultivating soil, growing crops, and raising animals for food, fiber, and other products. – Sustainable agriculture practices help ensure that we can produce enough food without harming the environment.
Extinction – The permanent loss of a species from the planet, often due to environmental changes or human activities. – The extinction of certain species can disrupt ecosystems and lead to a loss of biodiversity.
Crops – Plants that are grown in large quantities for food, fiber, or other economic purposes. – Farmers must carefully manage their crops to ensure a good harvest and maintain soil health.
Chemicals – Substances used in agriculture to enhance plant growth, control pests, or improve crop yields, but can sometimes harm the environment. – The use of chemicals in farming must be balanced to protect both crop yields and the surrounding ecosystems.
Food – Substances consumed by organisms to provide energy and nutrients necessary for growth and maintenance. – A diverse diet is important to ensure that we get all the nutrients our bodies need from food.
Ecosystems – Communities of living organisms interacting with their physical environment, functioning as a unit. – Healthy ecosystems provide services such as clean air, water, and fertile soil, which are essential for life.
Diversity – The variety of different species, genetic variations, and ecosystems found in a particular area or on the planet. – Biodiversity is crucial for ecosystem resilience and the overall health of the planet.
