Promoting Pollinators
One could be forgiven for assuming that most plants, and indeed trees are only pollinated by a handful of insects. But dare I say, this is not so. For even where there is no insect, a plant could potentially still reproduce and be pollinated. In todays world where farmers rely heavily on bees for setting their orchards and other crops to fruit, other, less focussed pollinators are still assisting in the work.
And this is where the concept of a complete system is realised. As much as bees enjoy nectar for their continued propagation, other insects, and indeed even mammals contribute towards the promotion of pollination. In particular, this can be evidenced in locations which are reasonably undisturded by anthropogenic or human-based activities. Such places would be areas bordering wilderness sites or places which have been brought under correct conservation management.
With the global reduction in bees, new and compatible methods of pollination need to be developed, with the result that some greenhouses are now using bumblebees in pollinating tomatoes and other crops. And I’m sure biologists are already looking into using other existing pollinators such as moths, bats, birds and butterflies on specific crops. In fact even the elements could potentially be put to use as pollinators – they already do under natural conditions, with grasses being pollinated by wind, and water acting as a carrier of fallen pollen from marginal plant species.
However, nothing beats plant specific insects which have co-evolved with certain plants to perform cross-pollination duties. Have you ever stopped to look at a butterfly unravel that long tongue like appendage into a plant, or seen a hoverfly extend its probiscis ever so carefully into the ‘landing pad’ of a flowering plant. One could easily spend half a morning during the summer months observing the garden activity of the pollinators. Busily moving about from plant to plant.
Its too easy to forget these small workers in our daily lives, busily contributing to our economies without asking for anything in return. We foolishly cut into their territories without thinking about the repercussions, and add poisons to their environment in our efforts to reduce the ‘nasty’ pests. And then wonder why the world of pollination is now experiencing a reduction in the numbers of pollinators. Birds, bees, butterflies and bats are all seeing a reduction in their numbers from the very likely impact of anthropogenic activities.
Believe it or not, flies and wasps are also pollinators. They may not pollinate commercially viable crops as yet, but they do help in pollinating plants in wilderness areas. The fly for example is readily attracted to the fetid smells of carrion plants (plants which give off a smell like a dead animal). Thus ensuring the continuation of such plants as (Stapelia gigantea and Hoodia gordonii) which may be found in regions like the Kalahari. As to the wasp, it has an interesting relationship. Some species of wasp have evolved a very specific relationship with the fig tree in which a single female will enter a fig fruit through a tiny opening. Once inside she will lay her eggs and die. The offspring will hatch and crawl out over the pollen heads and fly off to another fruit, and crawl inside rubbing off the pollen they collected from their host fruit, thus pollinating the fruit from the inside, where the figs flowers are.
Other pollinators that biologists have recorded are monkeys, lemurs, possums, rodents and even lizards. And I’m quite sure there are others which by simple association within a specific area they regularly brush up against flowering plants or trees, and then move on to another nearby tree of like species. Think of browsing antelope, giraffe or even a Leopard who chooses a new tree hidout. Thus the inter-relationships of pollination can be seen to be rather dependant on a healthy well balanced system.
Sure bees will no doubt feature strongly in our commercial endeavours to manage large crops, much like the combine harvesters move from south to north across the USA, following the ripening crops, so too are bees used in pollinating these mega mono-culture operations. And we need to remember this every time we take a bite out of an apple. Declines in the health and population of pollinators pose what could be a significant threat to biodiversity, global food webs and to human health. At least 80% of our world’s crop species require pollination to set seed. An estimated one out of every three bites of food comes to us through the work of animal pollinators.
This world is truly connected, and like it or not, we rely on this food web to sustain our own existences. Declining populations of pollinators have been monitored in the USA over the last 50 years, with the result that observations have witnessed a 90% decilne in wild honey bees, whilst managed bee populations have dropped by about two thirds. A number of human-based activities seem to be linked to the decline in these populations: irresponsible use of pesticide applications, loss of habitat, the global spread of parasites and diseases and the destruction of bee hives/colonies.
In looking to help this situation people are planting nectar rich plants in their gardens,or planting plants which are specific to certain pollinators, they are re-designing their gardens to become more ‘wildlife’ friendly, and local groups are securing small fields for the express purpose of establishing flowering meadows where butterflies and bees can find their choice natural flowering plants. Not only do we owe it to the pollinators to ensure their surival, we owe it to ourselves aswell. Think how difficult and costly it would be to artificially pollinate the many thousands of plants which our honey bees do for free.
