Pollinators

Animal and insect pollinators help plants reproduce and support healthy ecosystems and food security. Pollination benefits around 78% percent of the world’s crops, and one out of every three bites of our food--including fruits, vegetables, chocolate, nuts, and spices--depends on pollination services for production. Pollinators play an important role in generating more profitable yields on America's working lands: insect pollination services alone contribute an estimated $29 billion to US agriculture. Managed honey bees play an important role in providing these services, while also producing honey as well.
Pollinators are impacted by climate change in a number of ways. Warmer temperatures can encourage plants to bloom sooner than usual. Not all pollinators can adapt to an early blooming season, which means that many pollinators may have limited food availability from plants. Pollinators are also vulnerable to periods of drought. With warm weather and low precipitation, flowers produce less nectar to conserve energy. Reduced nectar means that pollinators get fewer calories and sugar which can lower pollinator health and reproduction. Extreme rainfall can also present a challenge, as it may reduce the number of hours pollinators can fly to gather floral resources. Climate change and associated extreme weather events may reduce the pollinators available to produce honey and provide pollination services for plant and crop reproduction.
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Climate Change Reduces the Abundance and Diversity of Wild Bees
Wild bees are more affected by climate change than by disturbances to their habitats. The findings suggest that…
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Northwest Pollinators and Climate Change
A summary of Northwest pollinators and their vulnerability to climate change.
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Spending More Time Indoors: It’s What’s in Store for US Honey Bee Colonies
Our changing climate is resulting in increasingly unstable conditions for bees. These challenges make the prospect of…
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Growing Milkweed in Vermont: An Economic Case Study
In this case study, we look at approaches and related costs and benefits to growing milkweed. We provide an economic…
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How Creating Pollinator Habitat can Help Northeast Farmers Adapt to Climate Change
Improved pollinator habitat can increase the presence of native pollinators on working vegetable, fruit, and grain…
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Monarch Butterfly and Milkweed Conservation Resources
Monarch conservation has inspired people across North America to protect and enhance pollinator habitat. Here are some…
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Investments in native forb research to promote pollinator health
Research and management partnerships, such as the Great Basin Native Plant Program, are developing the much-needed…
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Blueberries, Pollinators, and Pests with WVU
Crops and their pollinators are being affected by increasing temperatures. Researchers at West Virginia University are…
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Pollinators
Pollinators are responsible for assisting over 80% of the world's flowering plants. Without them, humans and…