Scientists are warning that climate change is the biggest threat to the pollinators that are essential for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem. Watch in for more details!

Climate change is threat to pollinators

The relationship between flowers and insect pollinators is as old as time. It forms a crucial part of the novels of and beyond Shakespearean times. In Indian pop culture, the flower-insect ties were solemnised in a 1982 Hindi film 'Prem Rog' starring actors Rishi Kapoor and Padmini Kolhapure, in a song whose lyrics can be translated&nbsp;as -The bumblebee fed the flower, and the prince took it away.&nbsp;

But now climate change is altering this relationship that enables the sustenance of the food chain as we know it, and has also influenced literature and pop culture in immeasurable proportions.

<h2>Flowers are 'giving up' on pollinators</h2>

According to a study published in the journal New Phytologist, flowers are now "giving up" on pollinators and evolving to be less attractive due to a decline in the number of insects.

The researchers found that flowers in a field of&nbsp;pansies near Paris are 10 per cent smaller and produce 20 per cent less nectar than flowers growing in the same fields 20 to 30 years ago.

"Our study shows that pansies are evolving to give up on their pollinators," Pierre-Olivier Cheptou, one of the study's authors and a researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research said in an official statement.&nbsp;

"They are evolving towards self-pollination, where each plant reproduces with itself, which works in the short term but may well limit their capacity to adapt to future environmental changes."

<h2>How flowers are evolving in 'real-time'?</h2>

Plants produce nectar for insects. In return, insects transport pollen between plants. This mutually beneficial relationship has formed over millions of years of co-evolution.&nbsp;

But now plants are producing less nectar, the research has found. This means that insects are becoming less attracted towards plants.

"Our results show that the effects of pollinator declines are not easily reversible, because plants have already started to change. Conservation measures are therefore urgently needed to halt and reverse pollinator declines," lead author Samson Acoca-Pidolle said in an official statement.&nbsp;

A report in the Guardian cited Dr Philip Donkersley of Lancaster University as saying that the phenomenon described in the above study shows "evolution happening in real-time".

"The fact that these flowers are changing their strategy in response to decreasing pollinator abundance is quite startling. This research shows a plant undoing thousands of years of evolution in response to a phenomenon that has been around for only 50 years," Donkersley, who was not associated with the study, said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earths-tiniest-flowering-plant-could-feed-and-oxygenate-astronauts-in-space-643877">Earth's tiniest flowering plant could feed and oxygenate astronauts in space</a>

The world has lost 5 per cent to 10 per cent of all insect species in the last 150 years — or between 250,000 and 500,000 species, according to a February 2020 study in the journal Biological Conservation.

The global insect population is declining at an unprecedented rate of up to 2 per cent per year, the study said.&nbsp;

Insects are described as "the fabric" that tethers together every freshwater and terrestrial ecosystem across the planet.

Also watch |&nbsp;WION Fineprint: Indonesia conservationist salvages indigenous flowers

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Insects pollinate more than 75 per cent of global crops, a service valued at up to $577 billion per year, according to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

(With inputs from agencies)

The relationship between flowers and insect pollinators is as old as time. It forms a crucial part of the novels of and beyond Shakespearean times. In Indian pop culture, the flower-insect ties were solemnised in a 1982 Hindi film 'Prem Rog' starring actors Rishi Kapoor and Padmini Kolhapure, in a song whose lyrics can be translated as -The bumblebee fed the flower, and the prince took it away.

The relationship between flowers and insect pollinators is as old as time. It forms a crucial part of the novels of and beyond Shakespearean times. In Indian pop culture, the flower-insect ties were solemnised in a 1982 Hindi film 'Prem Rog' starring actors Rishi Kapoor and Padmini Kolhapure, in a song whose lyrics can be translated as -The bumblebee fed the flower, and the prince took it away. But now climate change is altering this relationship that enables the sustenance of the food chain as we know it, and has also influenced literature and pop culture in immeasurable proportions. Flowers are 'giving up' on pollinators According to a study published in the journal New Phytologist, flowers are now "giving up" on pollinators and evolving to be less attractive due to a decline in the number of insects. The researchers found that flowers in a field of pansies near Paris are 10 per cent smaller and produce 20 per cent less nectar than flowers growing in the same fields 20 to 30 years ago. "Our study shows that pansies are evolving to give up on their pollinators," Pierre-Olivier Cheptou, one of the study's authors and a researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research said in an official statement. "They are evolving towards self-pollination, where each plant reproduces with itself, which works in the short term but may well limit their capacity to adapt to future environmental changes." How flowers are evolving in 'real-time'? Plants produce nectar for insects. In return, insects transport pollen between plants. This mutually beneficial relationship has formed over millions of years of co-evolution. But now plants are producing less nectar, the research has found. This means that insects are becoming less attracted towards plants. "Our results show that the effects of pollinator declines are not easily reversible, because plants have already started to change. Conservation measures are therefore urgently needed to halt and reverse pollinator declines," lead author Samson Acoca-Pidolle said in an official statement. A report in the Guardian cited Dr Philip Donkersley of Lancaster University as saying that the phenomenon described in the above study shows "evolution happening in real-time". "The fact that these flowers are changing their strategy in response to decreasing pollinator abundance is quite startling. This research shows a plant undoing thousands of years of evolution in response to a phenomenon that has been around for only 50 years," Donkersley, who was not associated with the study, said. Also read | Earth's tiniest flowering plant could feed and oxygenate astronauts in space The world has lost 5 per cent to 10 per cent of all insect species in the last 150 years — or between 250,000 and 500,000 species, according to a February 2020 study in the journal Biological Conservation. The global insect population is declining at an unprecedented rate of up to 2 per cent per year, the study said. Insects are described as "the fabric" that tethers together every freshwater and terrestrial ecosystem across the planet. Also watch | WION Fineprint: Indonesia conservationist salvages indigenous flowers × Insects pollinate more than 75 per cent of global crops, a service valued at up to $577 billion per year, according to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). (With inputs from agencies)

End of an eternal love story? As insect numbers decline, flowers are devolving to become less attractive

With the help of BloomX's technology, two crops—avocadas and blueberries—can be pollinated even in areas with extremely low bee populations. The "Robee," the company's flagship product, initially resembles a big push-along lawnmower. It has two protruding mechanical arms on either side.

Farmers turn to tech to combat declining bee population

As per an annual bee survey conducted by the University of Maryland and Auburn University, honeybee hives in the United States have experienced the second highest death rate on record, with beekeepers losing nearly half of their managed colonies. However, despite this staggering loss, the survey also found that the overall number of honeybee colonies in the country has remained relatively stable, reported the Associated Press.

Honeybees play a vital role in pollinating more than 100 crops, including nuts, vegetables, berries, citrus fruits, and melons. Scientists attribute the high mortality rate to a combination of factors, including parasites, pesticides, starvation, and the effects of climate change.

The survey reports that the 48 per cent&nbsp;loss of colonies in the past year is higher than the previous year's loss of 39% and the 12-year average of 39.6 per cent.&nbsp;However, it is not as severe as the 50.8 per cent&nbsp;mortality rate observed in the 2020-2021 period. Beekeepers participating in the survey indicated that a 21 per cent&nbsp;loss over the winter is deemed acceptable, yet more than three-fifths of them reported losses higher than threshold.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/fierce-heat-of-el-nino-may-be-carrying-risk-of-resurgent-deadly-viruses-608252">Fierce heat of El Nino may be carrying risk of resurgent deadly viruses, warns WHO</a>

To maintain the overall population of honeybee colonies, commercial beekeepers invest significant resources in splitting and restocking their hives. This involves finding or purchasing new queens or even starter packs for colonies, which is an expensive and time-consuming process. This approach has helped beekeepers rebound from substantial losses, contributing to the relative stability of the bee colony population.

<h2>Combination of factors including parasites, pesticides, starvation, and climate change lead to significant die-offs</h2>

While the current situation is far from the crisis observed 15 years ago, when managed pollination was under serious threat, challenges persist. Experts believe that honeybees will not go extinct but will continue to face environmental threats. The varying degrees of colony losses experienced by different beekeepers demonstrate the unpredictable nature of these challenges. Factors such as parasitic mites, bad weather, queen issues, and pesticides further compound the difficulties faced by honeybees.

The parasitic mite Varroa destructor, which transmits viruses, is identified as the primary culprit behind honeybee losses. Pesticides exacerbate the problem by weakening bees' immune systems and reducing their ability to seek food. Even small infestations of varroa in colonies can have devastating effects, as they make bees more susceptible to viruses.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-authorities-seize-millions-of-illegal-vapes-in-three-years-shows-data-608229">UK: Authorities seize millions of illegal vapes in three years, shows data</a>

Other contributing factors include landscapes dominated by a single crop, which deprive bees of diverse food sources, as well as bouts of extreme weather. Despite these challenges, the demand for pollination from commercial bee colonies continues to grow, necessitating increased efforts from beekeepers to replenish their losses. The honeybee's crucial role in pollinating insect-dependent plants highlights the importance of addressing the threats and finding sustainable solutions to protect these vital pollinators.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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As per an annual bee survey conducted by the University of Maryland and Auburn University, honeybee hives in the United States have experienced the second highest death rate on record, with beekeepers losing nearly half of their managed colonies.

As per an annual bee survey conducted by the University of Maryland and Auburn University, honeybee hives in the United States have experienced the second highest death rate on record, with beekeepers losing nearly half of their managed colonies. However, despite this staggering loss, the survey also found that the overall number of honeybee colonies in the country has remained relatively stable, reported the Associated Press. Honeybees play a vital role in pollinating more than 100 crops, including nuts, vegetables, berries, citrus fruits, and melons. Scientists attribute the high mortality rate to a combination of factors, including parasites, pesticides, starvation, and the effects of climate change. The survey reports that the 48 per cent loss of colonies in the past year is higher than the previous year's loss of 39% and the 12-year average of 39.6 per cent. However, it is not as severe as the 50.8 per cent mortality rate observed in the 2020-2021 period. Beekeepers participating in the survey indicated that a 21 per cent loss over the winter is deemed acceptable, yet more than three-fifths of them reported losses higher than threshold. Also read | Fierce heat of El Nino may be carrying risk of resurgent deadly viruses, warns WHO To maintain the overall population of honeybee colonies, commercial beekeepers invest significant resources in splitting and restocking their hives. This involves finding or purchasing new queens or even starter packs for colonies, which is an expensive and time-consuming process. This approach has helped beekeepers rebound from substantial losses, contributing to the relative stability of the bee colony population. Combination of factors including parasites, pesticides, starvation, and climate change lead to significant die-offs While the current situation is far from the crisis observed 15 years ago, when managed pollination was under serious threat, challenges persist. Experts believe that honeybees will not go extinct but will continue to face environmental threats. The varying degrees of colony losses experienced by different beekeepers demonstrate the unpredictable nature of these challenges. Factors such as parasitic mites, bad weather, queen issues, and pesticides further compound the difficulties faced by honeybees. The parasitic mite Varroa destructor, which transmits viruses, is identified as the primary culprit behind honeybee losses. Pesticides exacerbate the problem by weakening bees' immune systems and reducing their ability to seek food. Even small infestations of varroa in colonies can have devastating effects, as they make bees more susceptible to viruses. Also read | UK: Authorities seize millions of illegal vapes in three years, shows data Other contributing factors include landscapes dominated by a single crop, which deprive bees of diverse food sources, as well as bouts of extreme weather. Despite these challenges, the demand for pollination from commercial bee colonies continues to grow, necessitating increased efforts from beekeepers to replenish their losses. The honeybee's crucial role in pollinating insect-dependent plants highlights the importance of addressing the threats and finding sustainable solutions to protect these vital pollinators. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US beekeepers fight to replenish honeybee colonies amid high death rates

A trial at the University of Western Sydney is studying the efficiency of drones in a bid to replace honey bees for pollination purposes.

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This village in Morocco claims it has the world’s oldest & largest beehive. But due to drought situation, the colonies of bees have collapsed. There has been a mass death of bees, who are critical pollinators.

Why bees in this Moroccan village are dying?

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