Bees and their impacts on our ecosystem

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Save bees - something we have been hearing for quite some years now. Over the years, rapid urbanisation and introduction of varied pollutants has led to climate change which resulted in the decline of bees. The alarming decrease in the bee population has driven many researchers to understand the functions of bees and how their presence is intricate to the ecosystem. This resulted in the spread of common knowledge and awareness that we have to save bees. But have we ever wondered how they are important to the ecosystem and why is it so crucial to ensure that we take necessary action for their conservation?

Let's take a look!




Pollination

One major role the bees play is that of pollinators. Over a million years, bees and trees have formed an interdependent relationship. Bees help in pollinating seeds within a flower (self pollination) and across flowers (cross pollination). Bees get attracted to flowering plants as they need to search for food. Nectar is produced to attract bees while pollen is produced to ensure reproduction of the plant. Bees are hairy compared to other insects. When they land on a plant to consume nectar, the pollen gets attached to their hair and thus transport with them as they fly. When they land on the next flower, the pollen gets detached into the plant's stigma (female reproductive part of the plant). This is how pollination takes place. Similarly, when a bee travels within one plant in search of nectar, it transports the pollen from the male to the female part, where fertilisation takes place.

Do you know? Plants have specific colour linings to guide bees to the nectar. Some of these are visible to humans, but some are visible only to bees. By guiding the bees to the nectar, the plant also ensures that pollination takes place!

A honeybee can visit 50-1000 flowers in one trip, which takes them half an hour to four hours. A colony with 25,000 bees, each making 10 trips a day, is able to pollinate 250 million flowers everyday!


Biodiversity

Bees can identify different species of flowers and are responsible for sustaining forests. Around the world, bees have sustained tropical forests, savannah woodlands, and temperate deciduous forests. These ecosystems then sustain wild animals who rely heavily on forests for their sustenance. Thus, bees are responsible for their shelter and food.

When it comes to our cities, through pollination, bees keep our immediate surroundings green which then gives birds and squirrels a home.

Without bees, even these species will face difficulties in sustaining themselves. Bees are also a part of the food chain, which is crucial to maintain the balance in the ecosystem. Many birds consume bees for nutrition, thus maintaining the balance.

Without bees, numerous plant species will face extinction. This biodiversity is the reason we have so many food items. Bees support farmers by planting various crops like cocoa, tomatoes, apples, nuts, coffee, almonds, to name a few. With the decline of bees, experts fear extinction of these crops which can lead to a) farmers facing an economic crisis and b) nutritional deficiencies in humans as these crops are vital for sustenance.


Conserving Bees

So, what should we do to conserve bees? Here are few things someone or the other can do -

1. Grow native flowers so that bees have a constant food source.

2. Planning sustainable urbanisation will lead to more vegetation spots spread evenly in cities.

3. Contribute to research to understand the patterns of local bees.

4. Do not disturb beehives. If it is vital to get a hive removed, contact professionals who can relocate the hive in safer vegetation without harming them.

5. Look for alternatives of beeswax, royal jelly, bee venom, and honey as excessive commercialisation and increased demands of these products leads to more exploitation of bees.

Bees are an inspiration for hard work, dedication, and strength. Their tiny bodies have been sustaining ecosystems for centuries. Each one of us can surely conserve some bees!

Authored by Praanjali Shukla, Volunteer at PfA Bangalore

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