Question

Before reading these articles, state your current knowledge and opinion about the importance of pollinators to plants and other organisms such as humans. Then read about from the websites of Colony collapse of bees and colony collapse disorder. Then answer the following questions:

Define colony collapse disorder. and why we should be concerned. If you do not think this is a concern state your evidence for this opinion as well.

Are you surprised by the economic impact of colony collapse disorder?

If pollinators are eliminated in an ecosystem how will this affect the genetic diversity of the population?

What should or could be done to limit the effect of or help eliminate this problem?

Answer 1

• Colony collapse disorder is a situation in which disappearance of a vast majority of worker bees takes place. The queen bee, nurse bees & immature larva are left behind with lots of honey.
• We should be concerned because colony collapse disorder leads to death of colony members and reduces number of bees. If this continues number of bees would reduce drastically and pollination would be affected, reducing plant yields on global scale. This can lead to shortage of food and unprecedented rise in prices of food.
• Yes, it is quite surprising, because bees are not given much special concern even though they play such an important role.
• If pollinators are removed, it will reduce pollination. This will lead to reduced food production by producers. Thus, there will be lesser food and hence lesser numbers of animals to sustain.
• To limit the effects, habitat of bee should be protected, use of pesticides/insecticide should be banned, and awareness should be spread among global mass.