In the past few years, there has been an emphasis on pollinators and their role in our ecosystem and modern life. We’ve made many efforts to raise awareness and reduce their decline, but we need to keep actively working to help our pollinators. There are so many reasons pollinators are critical for our environment, society, and modern life. Today, we will explore just a few of these factors.
What are pollinators?
Pollinators are often the unnoticed workers of our ecosystem, yet we see the results of their work everywhere. They are the cornerstone for many systems we rely on for nearly every food we eat and the natural beauty we see.
The endless list of pollinators includes birds, bats, bees, butterflies, beetles, flies, and ants, but most are unseen. These tiny creatures help pollinate flowers and the plants that produce every three bites of food we eat. They help sustain our ecosystem and produce our natural resources by helping plants reproduce.
The Overview of Pollination
As these pollinators travel from plant to plant, they carry pollen with them. Some pollinators, such as bees, have specialized structures to collect pollen, while others, such as butterflies, still help spread pollen without collecting it. This vital interaction allows the transfer of genetic material critical to the reproductive system of flowering plants. These plants produce fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Some of these plants produce half of the world’s oils and fibers.
All plants have root systems that prevent soil erosion and increase carbon sequestration, which removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and stores it in the soil.
The Pollinators Role in the Ecosystem
Pollinators make fundamental contributions to biological diversity, as they are crucial to the food production process for humans and wildlife.
As the population has increased, the production volume of pollinator-dependent crops has increased threefold over the past five decades. Bees pollinate about 30–35 percent of global food crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and oilseeds. They also help wild flowering plants reproduce and increase the yield of about 85 percent of cultivated crops. A single bee colony can pollinate 300 million flowers each day, and honeybees pollinate $15 billion worth of crops in the United States each year.
These fruits, vegetables, and nuts are essential for healthy diets, providing enough vitamins and minerals. Also, bee species specifically contribute to many products we use as health or medicinal products, including honey, propolis, and beeswax. In a later article, we will explore these products, but they have been used for thousands of years for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties.
Additionally, they provide primary resources such as biofuels, fibers, and construction materials.
The Beauty of Pollinators
As our lives got busier and we transitioned to more indoor activities, we lost sight of the natural beauty these pollinators contribute to our surroundings. Pollinators add diversity to our world, backyard, and community in myriad ways. We see them buzzing in many different colors, patterns, and purposes. But they also contribute to bringing us beauty through their work. More than 80 percent of the world’s flowering plants need a pollinator to reproduce.
Contributing to Biodiversity
Just counting bee species alone, there are over 4,000 native bee species throughout the United States. There are well-known bees that are black, yellow, and fuzzy. But there are also species with red, blue, or even green metallic colors on their head or abdomen. The tiniest bee species is less than two millimeters long and is native to the southwest deserts. This Perdita minima bee still plays a massive role in protecting diversity, along with the thousands of other species of pollinators.
Their Role in Society
Pollinators are embedded in local cultures and traditions. Not just through the culturally focused food we eat, but they have also provided resources for the creation of musical instruments and arts and crafts. They have inspired art, music, literature, traditions, technology, and education.
In conclusion, we have made strides to raise awareness of pollinators’ importance and role in our world. But we have to continue working together to make progress. Whether it’s planting flowers or reducing the use of pesticides, we all have a part to play in supporting these critical species in our backyard and community.