Elizabeth May
By planting pollen grains, which eventually produce fruit and seeds, pollinators help to support agriculture and keep ecosystems healthy. According to the US Forest Service, pollinators are necessary for 80% of the world’s flowering plants. Each plant requires a different amount of assistance. Nevertheless, the number of pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, birds, and bats, is falling alarmingly. Bumblebees are one important pollinator that is currently in danger.
The Value of Individual Bees
Despite the fact that honeybees are the main pollinators of many crops, other solitary bees that do not reside in hives serve significant roles in pollinating other food plants that are essential for the survival of many birds and other mammals. In some parts of the world, these bees are also experiencing major die-offs, therefore it’s critical to safeguard their habitat and assure their survival.
Other Pollinators Include Birds.
In particular for orchids and other types of wildflowers, birds like hummingbirds and sunbirds are frequent pollinators. Bats, ants, beetles, butterflies, flies, moths, wasps, and other animals and insects also help pollinate plants.
Keeping Pollinators Safe
People can establish a variety of plant species to serve as resources for various pollinator species, buy native plant species from nurseries to support pollinator conservation, and participate in citizen science projects.
There are various occasions that promote public involvement in pollinator conservation and increase knowledge of the significance of pollinators.
Expert Understanding of Pollinators
Several academics are well knowledgeable about pollinators, particularly in the Southwest’s arid region.
For instance, more than 1,300 different species of bee can be found in Arizona, according to Daniel Papaj, a professor at the UA Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. Expert in butterfly habitats and behaviors, Katy Prudic is an assistant research professor in the department of entomology. She is also co-founder and co-director of e-Butterfly, a global web platform that maintains and compiles butterfly data collected by citizen scientists.
The health of ecosystems and agriculture depend on protecting pollinators. We can make sure that we continue to have access to a wide variety of crops and maintain a healthy environment by taking steps to conserve pollinators and their habitats.