Honey Bee Importance
Pollination in agriculture
The Honey bees and flowering plants co-evolved before human life was present on this earth. It is a well known and cemented fact that the appearance of pollinators allowed for the evolution of plant mechanisms, by means of reproduction to vacate for new pollination strategies, increasing diversity of plant species. The majority of the 250 000 flowering plants on earth have intriguing complex relationships with the bees (Abrol, D. P., 2012). The hive kept species (Apis cerana and Apis mellifera) are of highest importance because they can be handled and distributed by the aid of humans, and moved to fields and orchards where and when pollination is necessary (Delaplane, K. K. S. & Mayer, D. F., 2000).
The Honey bee although more commonly famous for its production of honey, is far more valuable as a pollinator. As humans we rely on crops as primary source of food. For many of these crops worldwide, bee pollination leads to higher yields, larger fruits, higher quality fruits and the faster production and ripening of fruits (Delaplane, K. K. S. & Mayer, D. F., 2000). Thus the benefits of bee pollination to agriculture is immense, with greater income for the growers and money into our economy, as well as the benefits of providing a diverse food supply for human consumption. The Honey bees are the major insect pollinators of cultivated crops including fruits, small seeded and vegetable crops, without bee pollination they simply can not produce economic yields (Delaplane, K. K. S. & Mayer, D. F., 2000). It has been estimated that insect pollination in Australia is worth up to AU$1.2 billion, emphasizing the importance of Honey bees for our well being (Gill, R. A. August,1990) (Abrol, D. P., 2012).
Some crops can produce fruits without fertilization of a flower so a pollinator is not required, however many flowers are self pollinated, meaning pollen is transferred from the anther to the stigma of the same flower or flowers of the same plant type (the flower has both a stamen and a carpel for self pollination to take place) (Abrol, D. P., 2012). This transfer is achieved via wind or rain for many plant types, however it is the insect pollinator such as the Honey bee that has proven to be most effective. Cross pollinated flowers require pollen to be transferred from the anther of a flower on one genetic plant type, to the stigma of a flower of another genetic plant type. Fruits of cross pollinated plant variety's often can not produce fruit from their own pollen, thus the Honey bee is required to carry the pollen from the anther to the stigma in these scenarios. This cross pollination also allows for greater genetic variability among populations as pollen transferred here are not genetically identical, often resulting in greater plant fitness as good genes remain among populations. If it wasn't for cross pollination many plant communities would face inbreeding depression, as dispersal techniques would be limited and often insufficient (Abrol, D. P., 2012). Therefore the Honey bee is vital in helping the long term survival of mankind as it pollinates our resources as our populations increase, while all along unknowingly doing so.
The Honey bee although more commonly famous for its production of honey, is far more valuable as a pollinator. As humans we rely on crops as primary source of food. For many of these crops worldwide, bee pollination leads to higher yields, larger fruits, higher quality fruits and the faster production and ripening of fruits (Delaplane, K. K. S. & Mayer, D. F., 2000). Thus the benefits of bee pollination to agriculture is immense, with greater income for the growers and money into our economy, as well as the benefits of providing a diverse food supply for human consumption. The Honey bees are the major insect pollinators of cultivated crops including fruits, small seeded and vegetable crops, without bee pollination they simply can not produce economic yields (Delaplane, K. K. S. & Mayer, D. F., 2000). It has been estimated that insect pollination in Australia is worth up to AU$1.2 billion, emphasizing the importance of Honey bees for our well being (Gill, R. A. August,1990) (Abrol, D. P., 2012).
Some crops can produce fruits without fertilization of a flower so a pollinator is not required, however many flowers are self pollinated, meaning pollen is transferred from the anther to the stigma of the same flower or flowers of the same plant type (the flower has both a stamen and a carpel for self pollination to take place) (Abrol, D. P., 2012). This transfer is achieved via wind or rain for many plant types, however it is the insect pollinator such as the Honey bee that has proven to be most effective. Cross pollinated flowers require pollen to be transferred from the anther of a flower on one genetic plant type, to the stigma of a flower of another genetic plant type. Fruits of cross pollinated plant variety's often can not produce fruit from their own pollen, thus the Honey bee is required to carry the pollen from the anther to the stigma in these scenarios. This cross pollination also allows for greater genetic variability among populations as pollen transferred here are not genetically identical, often resulting in greater plant fitness as good genes remain among populations. If it wasn't for cross pollination many plant communities would face inbreeding depression, as dispersal techniques would be limited and often insufficient (Abrol, D. P., 2012). Therefore the Honey bee is vital in helping the long term survival of mankind as it pollinates our resources as our populations increase, while all along unknowingly doing so.