Native Pollinators vs. Honeybees: Debunking Myths
The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Introduction
Honeybee numbers are increasing worldwide, but the way humans use honeybees makes them a problem. Putting a honeybee hive in your backyard doesn't help because we're saving the wrong bees. Pollinators responsible for nearly 85% of world's flower plant reproduction and even 35% of global crop production. There's over 3,600 native species of bees in the US and Canada. The bees with the highest population on the continent, the honeybee, isn't native. It was introduced in the early 17th century for their wax production.
This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" challenges the common narrative that honeybees are primarily responsible for pollinator decline. While acknowledging the importance of honeybees, the hosts, Andy and Elliot, alongside guest host Matt, argue that focusing solely on honeybee conservation distracts from the more significant issue: the need to protect and restore native pollinator populations. They dissect various research papers and highlight the nuances surrounding invasive species, monocropping, and the complex interplay between native and non-native plants and pollinators.
Challenging the Claim that Honeybees Promote Invasive Species
The episode examines the often-repeated assertion that honeybees contribute to the spread of invasive plant species. The hosts trace this claim back to a series of papers, starting with a 2001 study titled "The Influence of Sociality on the Conservation Biology of Social Insects". This paper, however, only briefly mentions the concept and refers to a 1994 study for further investigation. Upon examining this 1994 study, "An Assessment of the Contribution of Honeybees to Weed Reproduction in New Zealand Protected Natural Areas", the hosts find that the abstract directly contradicts the commonly held belief. The study concludes that while honeybees may pollinate some invasive species, they likely do not significantly contribute to the overall problem.
They further investigate another frequently cited paper, "Biotic Invasions: Causes, Epidemiology, Global Consequences, and Control", and discover that it doesn't even mention honeybees. This exploration reveals a pattern of misinterpretations and misattributions within the scientific literature, highlighting the importance of carefully examining primary sources rather than relying on secondhand summaries.
The Impacts of Monocropping on Pollinator Diversity
The hosts then shift their focus to monocropping, a prevalent agricultural practice that displaces native plants with vast swathes of single crops. They discuss a 2016 study that investigated how the scale of monocropping influences pollinator diversity. The research found that row crops, a common form of monoculture, negatively impact bee abundance within a 900-foot radius. Notably, even with unmanaged, "wild" areas bordering these monocrops, native pollinator diversity did not significantly improve. This finding suggests that the degradation of surrounding habitats may limit the effectiveness of small-scale native plant restoration efforts.
Rethinking Native and Non-Native Plant Strategies
The episode also challenges the simplistic notion that simply planting native species is a guaranteed solution for pollinator decline. They present findings from Oregon State University's Garden Ecology Lab, which compared the attractiveness of native and non-native plants to various pollinators. While native plants were initially more attractive, non-native plants became more popular with pollinators, especially honeybees, after a year of establishment within the ecosystem. This suggests that honeybees, as generalist foragers, gravitate towards less competitive resources.
The hosts emphasize that while native plants are generally more beneficial for native pollinators, honeybees' tendency to exploit less competitive non-native plants might inadvertently reduce competition for native pollinators. They caution, however, that replacing all non-native plants with natives could lead to increased competition between honeybees and native pollinators for those native resources.
The Need for a More Nuanced Perspective
The episode concludes by urging listeners to move beyond simplistic solutions and embrace a more nuanced understanding of the complex factors contributing to pollinator decline. They stress that honeybees are not the sole culprit and that various interconnected issues, such as habitat loss, pesticide use, and the spread of diseases from managed honeybee populations to wild pollinators, require attention. The hosts advocate for a holistic approach that prioritizes habitat restoration, reduces reliance on monocropping, and encourages thoughtful integration of both native and non-native plants to support a diverse range of pollinators.
Key Takeaways
- The claim that honeybees are the primary drivers of invasive species spread lacks strong scientific evidence.
- Monocropping negatively impacts pollinator diversity, and small-scale native plant restoration may be insufficient to fully mitigate this damage.
- While native plants are generally more beneficial, non-native plants can also support pollinators, and a balance between the two is necessary.
- Addressing pollinator decline requires a multifaceted approach that goes beyond simply focusing on honeybees and includes habitat restoration, reduced pesticide use, and disease management.
For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org
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