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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Subject:
From:
Aaron Morris <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 17 Mar 2000 09:41:12 -0500
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I have not had a lot of time lately to add my comments, but I have to add my
2 cents worth over the recent discussion about Ted Turner, Buchmann and
Nabhan.  It seems there is a lot of information being bantered about before
everyone has a chance to do their homework.  Homework?
Yes, homework.

First assignment: READ THE BOOK!
Second assignment: WATCH THE SHOW!

I read _The_Forgotten_Pollinators_ a few years back and rather enjoyed it.
I don't recall being overly alerted to the authors' attack on honeybees as
an exotic pest, although I do recall a bit of concern over the large
collective pollinating force.  The message I got from the book was the idea
of an endangered relationship as opposed to endangered species; the
difference being an endangered species is a particular entity (say flower)
which can be endangered.  Now, if that flower is the sole source of food for
a forgotten pollinator, if the flower goes down then the reliant pollinator
goes with it, hence an endangered relationship.  Plenty of examples; a cliff
dwelling plant in Hawaii comes to mind - the pollinators succumbed decades
ago, the plant is hanging on, but relies on humans on ropes with paint
brushes for pollination.

Buchman and Nabhan went on to make a point for habitat preservation that I
had not seen previously, or perhaps I had, but never as developed.
Presented was the idea of pollination corridors (and migration corridors)
which will provide pathways for migratories (birds, insects, whatever) to
use on their journeys.  Distinction being corridors vs isolated pockets.
Old schools saw isolated pockets of preservation (preserves) as sufficient,
figuring migratories could make it from one pocket preserve to the next as
they migrate.  New school of thought is that pockets aren't sufficient to
sustain migratories and that corridors are required.  Microclimates could
effect pockets such that a migratory might arrive at a pocket at the proper
time in its (the migratory's) schedule, but the weather may have been too
hot or cold to cause the food source upon which the migratories rely to have
already past or yet to arrive.  Pockets can get out of sync with the
migratory, whereas a corridor offers a better buffer.

So, do your homework.  Until then one has to read the "information" with a
grain of salt,

Aaron Morris - thinking speculation is not information.

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