I think it is quite clear that despite dire predictions, imported pollinators do not in fact negatively impact on the pollination web in general and rarely displace individual species. If the pollination web is of critical importance, then this fact must be acknowledged.
I would certainly agree that the loss of any species is a tragic occurrence, like the loss of a human language. Unfortunately these are everyday occurrences, but nature is no respecter of individuals nor particular species. Species came and went before human activity prevailed, as we all know.
The goal of maintaining global diversity seems worthy, and achievable. The quest to prevent the extinction of particular species may be futile and is certainly not based upon evolutionary trends. Furthermore, the pollination web seems to have evolved to be flexible, allowing radical temporal and geographic shifts.
Reference:
In spite of the high invasive potential and the spread of
honeybees on all continents (except Antarctica) as wild or
feral colonies, colonization sweeps in various ecosystems
have only rarely been a problem for non-Apis species.
Indeed, more direct studies of the impact of honeybees on
native bee survival, fecundity, or population density have
shown little evidence that the presence of honeybees has
any impact on native bees.
There are no reports that the introduction of honeybees
caused the extinction of other bee pollinators which are the
most likely competing group of organisms. Likewise,
no experiment has clearly demonstrated long-term reductions
in populations of native organisms.
Honeybee introductions have had or still have negative
effects only within the genus Apis. These negative effects
have primarily been due to the transport of novel parasites
and usually remain within the domain of apiculture.
Global invasions of the western honeybee (Apis mellifera) and the consequences for biodiversity. Robin Moritz, Stephan Härtel, Peter Neumann. Ecoscience, 12(3):289-301. 2005
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contributed by
Peter Loring Borst
128 Lieb Road
Spencer, NY 14883
607 280 4253
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