Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which type of bee nests in tunnels in the soil?
Which type of bee nests in tunnels in the soil?
What is a key method for conserving pollinators?
What is a key method for conserving pollinators?
Which of the following is NOT a cause of pollinator decline?
Which of the following is NOT a cause of pollinator decline?
Who is known for raising awareness about the dangers of pesticides through their writing?
Who is known for raising awareness about the dangers of pesticides through their writing?
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What type of bee deposits pollen and eggs in holes bored into wood?
What type of bee deposits pollen and eggs in holes bored into wood?
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What factor has NOT contributed to the decline of insect populations?
What factor has NOT contributed to the decline of insect populations?
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Which of the following crops is NOT typically grown in Canada?
Which of the following crops is NOT typically grown in Canada?
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What is the primary method of pollination for grass crops?
What is the primary method of pollination for grass crops?
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Which aspect of bees enhances their pollination effectiveness?
Which aspect of bees enhances their pollination effectiveness?
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What is the effect of colony collapse disorder?
What is the effect of colony collapse disorder?
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Which flower color is generally not favored by bees?
Which flower color is generally not favored by bees?
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What principle encourages precautionary measures in uncertain situations?
What principle encourages precautionary measures in uncertain situations?
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What has been the overall percentage decline in insect populations worldwide over the past 40 years?
What has been the overall percentage decline in insect populations worldwide over the past 40 years?
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Which term refers to the responsibility placed on producers to prove product safety?
Which term refers to the responsibility placed on producers to prove product safety?
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What is a critical factor contributing to the loss of biodiversity?
What is a critical factor contributing to the loss of biodiversity?
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How do neonicotinoids affect honeybee populations primarily?
How do neonicotinoids affect honeybee populations primarily?
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What role do Varroa mites play in the decline of honeybee populations?
What role do Varroa mites play in the decline of honeybee populations?
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Which effect can result from sub-lethal exposure to pesticides in honeybees?
Which effect can result from sub-lethal exposure to pesticides in honeybees?
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Which of the following environmental issues is associated with honeybee health?
Which of the following environmental issues is associated with honeybee health?
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What is a consequence of fungicides on honeybees?
What is a consequence of fungicides on honeybees?
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What is one potential effect of honeybees on native bumblebee populations?
What is one potential effect of honeybees on native bumblebee populations?
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Which action is suggested to minimize negative effects of pesticides on pollinators?
Which action is suggested to minimize negative effects of pesticides on pollinators?
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What should be done to protect and create nesting areas for native pollinators?
What should be done to protect and create nesting areas for native pollinators?
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Which of the following is a cause of decline in pollinator populations?
Which of the following is a cause of decline in pollinator populations?
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What type of plants should be included to support native pollinators throughout the year?
What type of plants should be included to support native pollinators throughout the year?
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What is one way to help maintain cover areas for native pollinators?
What is one way to help maintain cover areas for native pollinators?
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What should be done when beekeepers are planting nearby?
What should be done when beekeepers are planting nearby?
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What is noted as a significant fact about native bees in North America?
What is noted as a significant fact about native bees in North America?
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What is the primary role of pollen in plant reproduction?
What is the primary role of pollen in plant reproduction?
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Which of the following statements is true regarding wind-pollinated species?
Which of the following statements is true regarding wind-pollinated species?
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Which characteristic is unique to female bees in the context of pollination?
Which characteristic is unique to female bees in the context of pollination?
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What was noted about the effectiveness of wild insect pollinators compared to honey bees?
What was noted about the effectiveness of wild insect pollinators compared to honey bees?
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What type of social structure do honeybees exhibit?
What type of social structure do honeybees exhibit?
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How do honey bees and wild insects impact fruit set independently?
How do honey bees and wild insects impact fruit set independently?
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What factor has contributed to the decline of wild insect pollinators?
What factor has contributed to the decline of wild insect pollinators?
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What is a common behavior of pollinator bees during the day?
What is a common behavior of pollinator bees during the day?
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Study Notes
Pollinator Conservation
- Pollinators are crucial for sexual reproduction in gymnosperms (e.g., grasses) and angiosperms (vascular plants not grasses).
- Pollen prevents inbreeding by carrying sperm cells from one plant to another.
- A vector moves pollen between plants; wind is inefficient, animals (often in mutualism) are more effective.
- Animal-pollinated plants have sticky or barbed pollen grains (e.g., dandelion).
- Wind-pollinated plants have light, small, smooth pollen (e.g., corn).
- Bees have good eyesight (including UV) and a good sense of smell. They are intelligent and can count.
- Only bee females have leg hairs for pollen transport.
- Bees are diurnal and agile, and they communicate using a waggle dance.
- Honeybees are eusocial, living in groups with multiple generations in hives.
- Bumblebees are primitively eusocial, living in small groups with diverse nest sites.
- Native bees are mostly solitary.
- Wild insect pollinator diversity and abundance have declined in many agricultural landscapes.
- Fruit set in crops is positively associated with flower visitation by wild insects in 41 worldwide crop systems.
- Fruit set increases significantly with honey bee visitation in only 14% of the studied crop systems.
- Overall, wild insects pollinate crops more effectively than honeybees.
- Wild insect visitation enhances fruit set by twice as much as an equivalent increase in honeybee visitation.
- Visitation by wild insects and honeybees promote fruit set independently.
- New practices are needed for integrated management of both honeybees and wild insects.
- Plants offer pollen as food, but often store pollen away in tubes (tomatoes, potatoes, cranberries).
- Bumblebees, native bees, and other insects grab pollen tubes with their mandibles (mouthparts) and legs.
- Bees vibrate their wings at 100x/sec to shake pollen grains from the anther onto themselves.
- Buzz pollination force of buzzing can be 30x that of gravity.
- Bee-friendly flowers are colorful (not usually red), have a landing platform, nectar guides (may be UV visible), and are mildly fragrant.
- Canola, alfalfa, strawberries, blueberries, pumpkin, tomatoes, onions, cranberries, sunflowers, and red clover are plants pollinated by insects (not wind).
- Many other crops (e.g., coffee, mangoes, almonds) rely on insect pollination.
- Insect population decline is a global phenomenon affecting invertebrates in the last 40 years.
- Insecticide use, habitat loss, deforestation, and monoculture agriculture contribute to declining insect populations.
- Colony collapse disorder affects pollinators.
- Pollinating birds are declining due to pollinator loss, negatively impacting food crops and pollination of wildflowers.
- Scientists cite pesticide use, monoculture agriculture, urbanization, and habitat destruction as reasons for insect decline.
- Neonicotinoids harm bee populations by reducing their ability to survive winter hibernation, which is a cause for concern.
- Sub-lethal effects of pesticide exposure can cause immunity problems in honeybees increasing risk of dying from viral infections like deformed wing virus (DWV).
- Fungicides increase the probability of Nosema infection in bees, posing a threat to pollinator health.
Pollinator Conservation Actions
- Minimize pesticide use.
- Maintain or create pollinator-friendly lawns and gardens naturally.
- Eliminate cosmetic lawn chemicals in some regions.
- Accept some damage to lawn aesthetics in order to reduce pesticide usage
- Let nearby beekeepers know about bee-related pesticide application risks, and let them know when they are planting.
- Plant in the early morning or evening when bees are less active. Use seeds that aren't treated with pesticides.
- Maintain cover and forage areas.
- Create uncultivated areas where pollinators can nest.
- Provide clean water and mud for nesting.
- Provide nesting areas (e.g., bee hotels/nests).
- Use nectar and pollen-producing plants that bloom throughout the year. (e.g., willow, maple, cherry).
- Monitor and report pollinator sightings.
- Support organizations that study and protect pollinators, or volunteer for their work.
Review Questions
- What are the different native bee types? (honeybees, bumblebees, native bees)
- How can pollinators be conserved?.(minimize pesticide use, maintain cover/forage areas, maintain and create nesting areas, mitigation of factors leading to pollinator decline)
- What is buzz pollination (the bee vibrates its wings to shake pollen from the anther) ?
- What are the main causes of pollinator declines? (pesticides, habitat loss, pollution, overworking, inbreeding, disease)
- Who is Rachel Carson and what happened? (author of Silent Spring, recognized effects of pesticide use on environment)
- What is the precautionary principle? (taking preventative action in face of uncertainty to avoid potential harm)
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Description
Test your knowledge on bee species, pollination methods, and the factors affecting pollinator populations. This quiz covers important concepts related to conservation efforts and biodiversity loss. Challenge yourself to identify the key issues surrounding pollinators and their habitats.
