Mike Rossander <[log in to unmask]> wrote:


>2.  A few weeks ago, someone posted about a study that carbon-uptake of a 
plant increased shortly after pollination.  That's unsurprising since the 
plant has to spend a lot of energy creating the fruit/seed/etc after 
pollination - and much of that fruit will be carbon-based.  Again however, 
that carbon is re-released during consumption.  

Reply:
This may be true, but fruits are for the dispersal of seeds, and much of 
the carbon actually used in the production of the seed itself.  Whereas 
the fruit is consumed, there is also a potential dispersal of seed, and 
subsequent new growth.  The carbon uptake from tree seed germination and 
growing to saplings can potentially lock up carbon for several hundred 
years, as exampled by the massive estimated 200 plus year old pollinator 
pollinated oak trees out back the house. 


>3.  Pollination increases the growth of leafy plants (either in the 
current plant or in the next season).  Again, most of that carbon will be 
re-released when the plant dies and decomposes.  

Reply:
Sure! But that is like saying; ‘There is no use in conserving oil as all 
the oil will be used up someday anyways’.  Most benefits from sequestering 
carbon come from locking up carbon for short durations at a time.  it’s a 
continuance of a cycle and it will be released again, to be taken up again 
by plants with the increased carbon uptake caused by embryo growth as a 
result of pollination.


>About the only way that we can contribute to carbon sequestration is if 
the pollination increases the growth of the woody-components of trees.  

Reply:
From my understanding a clear cut forest with young sapling growth 
consumes much more carbon than old growth forest.   This new regeneration 
benefiting greatly from the pollinators of the planet. 

Might be best to think of it in terms of ‘proper tire inflation’.  Yes, 
one tire properly inflated does little impact make.  But billions of 
properly inflated tires as in billions "BILLIONS" of pollinators a BIG 
difference makes!

Best Wishes,

Joe Waggle ~ Derry, PA ‘Bees Gone Wild Apiaries' 
FeralBeeProject.com 
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/HoneybeeArticles

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