Researcher warns of the risk of the disappearance of bees in Rondônia
The varied causes of deforestation in the Amazon are important factors that contribute to the disappearance of the species.
Manaus – Important pollinating agents and responsible for the production of most of nature's fruits, Bees play a fundamental role in the environment and the disappearance of this species could have disastrous consequences for humanity.
Due to the relevance of these pollinators for maintaining biodiversity, researcher at the National Amazon Research Institute (Inpa/MCTI), Márcio Oliveira, in partnership with researcher J. Christopher Brown, from the University of Kansas (USA), carried out a study that links agrarian colonization and associated deforestation in Rondônia with the disappearance of bees.
For a year, researchers visited 187 state locations. Through satellite image monitoring, the most deforested areas of Rondônia were identified and then the relationship was made with the disappearance of species in these regions.
“With the encouragement of the occupation of Rondônia lands in the years 80, growth was accelerated and populations began to deforest to carry out agricultural activities. In the first areas that were occupied, a smaller number of bee species is noted than those occupied last. In colonization areas close to indigenous reserves and conservation units, is where a greater number of species are found, which demonstrates the importance of these areas”, explains Oliveira.
Still in the State, the greatest wealth of stingless bee species on the planet was discovered: are 98 species, and 10 of them classified as new species and 16 seen for the first time in Rondônia. However, 12 Species cited for the State were not located, what concerns the researcher and motivates him to carry out further research in order to confirm that they are not at risk of extinction in the region.
Alarming concern
According to Marcos Oliveira, Concern about the disappearance of bees initially arose with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in a warning about the consequences that the disappearance could cause.
“The bees, have always been considered one of the most important organisms in nature. It is estimated that they are responsible, through pollination, for fruit production in approximately 800 foods consumed by man. So, its disappearance or decrease could affect cotton production, of coffee, orange and many other fruits and grains consumed by man”, highlights the researcher.
The varied causes of deforestation in the Amazon, with emphasis on the expansion of urban centers, crops, pastures and timber, in addition to the opening of roads and the implementation of hydroelectric and mining plants, are important factors that contribute to its disappearance.
According to researcher, in recent years, the scientific community has warned about the consequences of these activities on global warming, but, very little has been said about the consequences for bees, pollinators par excellence.
“Depending on the occupation model adopted for the Amazon, This may result in the local disappearance of some species of bees or the reduction of their populations and have unpredictable consequences for agriculture. So, the best strategy would be to know the pollinators, what do they pollinate (There are cases of plants that only reproduce because of a specific pollinator), protect them and protect their areas of occurrence. Without them, the cost to humanity would be extremely high.”, warns Oliveira.
The researcher also remembers an organic supermarket chain called Whole Foods – located in the State of Texas, US us – which temporarily removed from its shelves all products that come from pollination-dependent plants: were 237 from 453 articles, so, 52% of the normal portion of the department.
To reverse the situation, the researcher recommends leaving a large part of the deforested and now abandoned areas to regenerate, under official protection, as is done in conservation areas.
Publication
The article containing the studies carried out by researchers in Rondônia, intitulado ‘The impact of agricultural colonization and deforestation on stingless bee (Apidae: Meliponine) composition and richness in Rondônia, Brazil’, was published in October by the magazine Apidologie, one of the most important in the world about bees.
The French magazine is linked to the French National Research Institute (INRA).
Published on 11/Nov/2013
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