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Post by andy on Jun 20, 2013 19:04:58 GMT
This was thrown at me by a good friend the other day.
Q) what would happen if we lost most of our bee population ?
I couldn't really think of an "end of the world" scenario but came up with the following. Please feel free to add or knock me down.
A) whilst it would be a disaster to lose any animal or insect, i couldn't see there being a huge impact on our lives. Pollenation (particularly of fruit trees) would be the major impact along with loss of honey production. But if the fruit trees weren't getting pollenated, surely it could be done manually using a paint brush...labour intensive yes but we have 2 million unemployed. Would other insects pollenate instead or would we breed self pollenating varieties. Im also pretty sure we could live without that luxury that is honey too !!!
Discuss
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Post by Rosefriend on Jun 21, 2013 6:00:07 GMT
This was thrown at me by a good friend the other day. Q) what would happen if we lost most of our bee population ? I couldn't really think of an "end of the world" scenario but came up with the following. Please feel free to add or knock me down. A) whilst it would be a disaster to lose any animal or insect, i couldn't see there being a huge impact on our lives. Pollenation (particularly of fruit trees) would be the major impact along with loss of honey production. But if the fruit trees weren't getting pollenated, surely it could be done manually using a paint brush...labour intensive yes but we have 2 million unemployed. Would other insects pollenate instead or would we breed self pollenating varieties. Im also pretty sure we could live without that luxury that is honey too !!! Discuss I think there would possibly be more impact than we think but pollinating trees/plants with 2 million unemployed wouldn't work - well, certainly not here. In the strawberry/asparagus season here when I live in Germany, the pickers are all Russians and Poles - no German will stoop low enough (sorry for the pun) to work for the pittance that is paid. If they were made to do the work then the waiting room at the Doc's would be full of people with bad backs, arms, heavens knows what...it's been tried!! There would no doubt be a uproar from the Honey Brigade, especially in Hamburg where apparently extra honey is used in the Brothels...I jest not !! However without bees the food chain would be interrupted - not bad in the western world perhaps but what happens in the poorer countries, - no food and people die!! One thing could be interesting and that is - would the insect world adjust - would evolution change. Let's face it many in the animal and insect world have adjusted through the millions of years, so why not in this instance!! RF |
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Post by Chuckles on Jun 24, 2013 15:22:18 GMT
I don't think it would be an actual end of the world situation andy but as Rosefriend has said there would possibly be more impact than we think, or could even imagine, it would have a real knock on effect on many many things  |
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