The Importance of Bees

Nandi Valandy

In my local area it is evident that there is a declining population of pollinators. Around half of the 27 bumblebee species are declining and at least 3 are extinct. Around 7 species have declined by 50% in the last 25 years. This is because of factors such as urban development and habitat loss which not only decrease their populations but also decrease their health. One project called ‘Urban Buzz’ have been trying to increase bee populations for over 20 years in places like Hollywell's park, Christchurch Park and Landseer Park. They are partnered with the local borough council, greenways countryside project and more. Pollinators themselves have very little legal protection which is why it is so important that we help them thrive. I chose this area because it is vital that we protect the bees especially in this area where there is a decline.

Bees are so important for the ecosystem for numerous reasons. Bees are the most important insect pollinators, responsible for pollinating about 75–80% of food crops worldwide. They transfer pollen between flowers, enabling plants to reproduce and produce fruits, seeds and vegetables. In agriculture, bees significantly increase crop yields and improve the quality of produce, affecting crops like almonds, blueberries, cucumbers and many others. Without bees, the scale and cost of growing these foods would rise, threatening food security and reducing availability. Bees are keystone species that help sustain ecosystems. By pollinating plants, they support the survival of other wildlife that depends on these plants for food and shelter. Many plants have co-evolved with specific bee species, meaning that if a particular bee species disappears, the associated plant may also face extinction. Maintaining plant diversity through bee pollination also contributes to the ecosystem, such as regulating climate, purifying air and water, building soil and recycling nutrients. Bees provide products like honey and beeswax, which are valuable for human consumption and industries. Beekeeping supports rural livelihoods and contributes to the global economy with millions of hives producing significant quantities of honey annually.

Habitat Loss and fragmentation is where expansion of agriculture, urbanisation, and deforestation has reduced natural habitats such as wildflower meadows, hedgerows, and woodlands. This limits bees' access to diverse food sources and nesting sites, forcing colonies to expend more energy foraging and increasing their vulnerability. Pesticide exposure is where insecticides are absorbed by plants and contaminate pollen and nectar. Even low doses can impair their navigation, foraging, learning and reproduction. Diseases and parasites is where parasites carry viruses and bacteria that compromise bee immunity. Diseases further threaten colonies, often leading to widespread mortality. Climate Change is where rising temperatures and extreme weather events disrupt their internal clocks, migration patterns, and nectar availability. Warmer winters allow pests to thrive, while droughts and heat waves can decimate colonies.

Methodology

Data Collection

Since I have chosen an area with lots of grassland and flora I will use a belt transect to sample the area. I did this by choosing two areas, an area that has been impacted by human activity in the nature reserve and an area which has had less of a human impact. This allowed me to compare site A and site B to be able to grasp an understanding into how human activity can have an impact on natural flora and then eventually how this impacts pollinator such as bees.This also allowed me to identify what plants are present in the area to be able to find out if they are native plants/ invasive species and if they are pollinator plants which aid pollinator populations.I then complete a nature observation where I will note down what I can visually see in the area if I am able I could also look at old maps to make visual comparisons to the area. Once I collected all my data I then used this as an indicator into if there has been evidence of a decline in pollinator numbers and I researched as to why this is the case. This was done by contacting my local borough council for any historical information they are willing to give me such as what it used to look like, is there evidence for pollinator species decline in populations and if so why do you think that is the case, has there been a change in flora etc. By using this information I will be able to create a table of results to compare the past vs present for my article. The information I gained was that the site was designed as a local nature reserve in 2005 and in 2018 they have since installed a series of wildflower strips in the meadows which they were able to do by receiving funding from Buglife which has in turn attracted more pollinator species. The site was also a former brickworks so the geology has drastically changed from sand to clay. There are already active conservation efforts for the area with a local group every 2nd Thursday of each month.

Action

My initial goals are to be able to create a safe and sustainable environment for bee populations to thrive in the area. My plan is to create water stations for the bees due to the hot weather, remove any invasive species, create bee hotels and plant pollinator friendly flowers.

Bee hotels

This is an essential as most of the UK's (90%) bee population are solitary bees and bee hotels target such species. This allows them to lay eggs and take care of their young in a safe habitat. The limitation of this is that it takes a while for the bee to settle into the habitat and for it to actually have an impact on the environment so this is a long term intervention.

Method:

Roll cardboard/paper into hollow tubes but ensure one end is closed
Cut tubes to around 10-15cm
Roll enough to fill a container tightly (eg water bottle)
Add a piece of string so the hotel is able to hang (eg off a tree)
Add a roof/barrier to ensure it is waterproof and doesn't get damaged

Water stations

These are essential as bees not only need water to drink but also to cool off in the heat and for their young. This will aid populations as it will prevent them from trying to go into deep water stores which could cause them to drown.

Method:

Fill a container with stones/sticks
Add water until the tops of the material is only just above the water

These were placed near pollinator plants to maximise their usage or in the shade. Adding stones allows them to stand above the water to cool down without drowning. I can then observe these over a period of time to see if they are being used and note down the number of bees that do use it ( keep in mind weather will be a factor)

Results/findings

My findings answer my original research question as I was able to find out how the nature reserve is upkept by getting into contact with my local borough council via email and I was able to learn that every 2nd thursday of the month an active friend group does regular conservation work around the area. I also learnt that they have installed a series of wildflower strips in the meadow with funding from BugLife to attract pollinators. In the end I was able to complete my goal in investigating the biodiversity in the area. From my study was able to gather that the site does in fact contain an invasive species of plant called Japanese Knotwood which has to be taken care of in a specific way as if the roots are just pulled out the remainder of the plant can regrow into multiple different plants so if is injected with chemicals to keep it under control.

I tested two different sites using a belt transect to determine if human disturbance would affect biodiversity and I have concluded that it does slightly as the flora in the two areas differed slightly and average percentage abundance of plants besides grass species declined quite a significant amount. For example, in site A yarrow has a percentage abundance of 15% but in site B it was 1%. I was able to make 5 bee hotels and 3 water stations for the bees to give them a safe environment to inhabit, which were placed across the nature reserve.

Data analysis

Flora found at each site using a belt transect

At 5 metres:

Site A: Wild thyme (frequent) I Queen Anne’s lace (abundant) I Broad leaved grass (dominant) I Thin leaved grass (dominant) I Yarrow (abundant) I Ribwort plantain (frequent) I Greater knapweed (occasional)