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<DIV><FONT color=#666666>From Elmira Star-Gazette - Elmira,NY,USA</FONT></DIV>
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<H1>Protecting our diverse native bee fauna</H1>
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<P class=ratingbyline>By Bryan Danforth • July 25, 2009 </P></SCRIPT>
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<P><SPAN class=pp></SPAN>In 2007-08, there were widespread media reports of
major die-offs of managed honey bee colonies in North America. The phenomenon
was termed "colony collapse disorder" (or CCD) and became one of The New York
Times' "buzzwords" (no pun intended) for 2007. Some experts predicted dire
consequences as a result of CCD.</P>
<P><BR><!-- begin ad tag-->While decline in honey bee colonies is certainly a
cause for concern, especially for production of certain crops and for
bee-keepers whose livelihoods depend on honey bees, the majority of media
reports failed to provide some important background information.<SPAN
class=aa></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=pp></SPAN>The honey bee (Apis mellifera) is one species out of an
estimated 20,000 bees worldwide - more than 4,000 in the United States and 400
to 450 in New York. The media reports failed to distinguish between "honey bees"
(one species) and "bees" in general (approximately 20,000 species). CCD affects
only honey bees and is not foreshadowing an environmental catastrophe.<SPAN
class=aa></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=pp></SPAN>Honey bees, not a native species in North America, are
useful pollinators in many (not all) crops. Their colonies can be easily moved
and, of course, they produce honey.<SPAN class=aa></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=pp></SPAN>There is increasing evidence that preserving the
diversity of native bee species may be an effective safeguard against declines
in the pollinator services provided by honey bees.<SPAN class=aa></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=pp></SPAN>Native bees are pollinators for apples, blueberries,
cranberries, sunflowers, watermelons, squashes and pumpkins, to name just a
few.<SPAN class=aa></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=pp></SPAN>Many local apple growers have told me that they no
longer bring honey bees into their orchards - and yet they are seeing no
noticeable decline in apple pollination. Unfortunately, there are few studies
that document the value of native bees in crop pollination.<SPAN
class=aa></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=pp></SPAN>The CCD crisis may have changed that. Pollination
biologists are now carefully examining the role that native bees perform in crop
pollination. There is a new movement emerging that you could describe as
"managing pollinator diversity" or "sustainable pollination." In this approach,
farmers, homeowners and gardeners provide native bees with habitats, nesting
substrates and floral resources that help maintain a diverse native bee fauna in
agricultural and suburban settings.<SPAN class=aa></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=pp></SPAN>Managed honey bee populations may continue to decline,
and we do need to understand why. However conserving our diverse native bee
fauna is good for the environment and may also preserve our ability to produce
the fruits, berries, nuts and vegetables that keep our diet varied, interesting
and healthy.<SPAN class=aa></SPAN></P></DIV><STRONG>Danforth is a professor of
entomology at Cornell University.</STRONG><BR>
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<DIV>Laurie Davies Adams<BR>Executive Director<BR><B>Pollinator Partnership
</B><BR>423 Washington Street, 5th floor<BR>San Francisco, CA
94111<BR>415-362-1137<BR>LDA@pollinator.org</FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial
color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><BR><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0
face="Gill Sans MT" color=#0000ff size=4 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="14"><B><A
href="http://www.pollinator.org/">www.pollinator.org</A></B></FONT><FONT lang=0
face="Gill Sans MT" color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="10"></B><BR><A
href="http://www.nappc.org/">www.nappc.org</A><BR><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0
face="Gill Sans MT" color=#000000 size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="12"><B><I>National Pollinator Week is June 22-28, 2009. <BR>Beecome
involved at <A
href="http://www.pollinator.org/">www.pollinator.org</A></I></FONT></B></DIV></FONT><DIV CLASS="aol_ad_footer" ID="14cab6c0a998357da6431114fede165b"><br/><font style="color:black;font:normal 10pt arial,san-serif;"> <hr style="margin-top:10px"/><B>A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. <A HREF=http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221823322x1201398723/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=115&bcd=JulystepsfooterNO115>See yours in just 2 easy steps!</A></B></font></DIV></BODY></HTML>