A national bee map is the first of its kind and it signals the decrease in the pollinator population.
Scientists have been working on creating the first national bee map. Their efforts concentrated on finding the status of such a population of pollinators across the entire surface of the United States. Unfortunately, the chart identified a clear declining line among wild bees. On the bright side, knowledge proves to be a power once more, and the new report will help scientists improve this concerning situation.
While there is no such thing as an exact answer, experts believe that the decline in bee population is due to a mixture of factors. These are the use of pesticide, declines in natural habitats, global warming, and the popularity of monocrop agriculture. All these agents are not only affecting many wild bees, but also other pollinating species. A UN report created in 2016 discovered that two out of each five such invertebrate species are in danger of extinction. If this situation isn’t improving, the global agriculture is going to suffer great consequences.
To take control over this concerning phenomenon, a team of researchers from four different American universities created the first national bee map. To achieve such ambitious goal, they conducted field observations that were ultimately compared to habitat distribution. This is how they were able in the end to predict how many bees lived in what regions of the United States.
The map was already public since 2015. However, it managed to draw larger attention when it was presented during the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The chart played a major role in a presentation that focused on the wild bee situation and food production in U.S.
The map portrays alarming times. Hundreds of countries have no longer enough bee populations to sustain the needed task of pollination. Some of these regions are also located in major agricultural areas that are vital for the U.S. economy. These are California, the Great Plains, and the Pacific Northwest.
However, the national bee map is just the first step in a plan to better protect such a population. Next up on the agenda of scientists is the creation of an application. This software is intended for farmers. Thanks to it, they will be able to attract more bees for the benefit of their crops. As the map shows scientists in what parts to concentrate their conservation efforts, they will hurry to start programs for preserving wild bees.
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