Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: thedoc on 23/10/2014 00:30:02

Title: Is technology use causing the decline of bees?
Post by: thedoc on 23/10/2014 00:30:02

Ailene Hewitt asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Is it possible that there is a connection between the ever-increasing use of technological devices is impacting the magnetic energy fields and our problem with bees dying in vast numbers?

What do you think?

Title: Re: Is technology use causing the decline of bees?
Post by: Atomic-S on 23/10/2014 05:05:12

I read in some source that I cannot now recall, that the primary suspect was the use of certain types of insecticides, although somewhere else I seem to recall having heard about the prevalence of a certain micro-organism. I have not  heard anything about electromagnetic interference as a cause as pertains to bees, although there is some evidence that it may have disrupted bird flight patterns.

Title: Re: Is technology use causing the decline of bees?
Post by: Don_1 on 23/10/2014 12:17:27

A recent report in the Journal of Apicultural Research has suggested that fluctuations in magnetic fields may be an additional cause of CCD as they might interfere with the bees' magnetoreceptors (http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/M/Magnetoreceptors.html). It even suggested that solar flares, which can effect magnetic fields, could be part of the problem.

Considering that solar flares will have been effecting Earth's magnetic fields for the past few billion years, I hardly think it reasonable to point the finger of blame toward the Sun for recent bee problems. It should also be noted that fluctuations in Earths magnetic field occur naturally without outside intervention from the Sun, Moon or any other celestial body. This too has been going on for longer than bees have been around.

While these fluctuations have been shown to cause bees to loose their way back to the hive, I seriously doubt that they are a major factor in CCD.

So far as I am aware, their has been no evidence found to support the claims that microwaves used in the cell phone systems are to blame.

The parasite Varroa Mite has been studied as a possible cause, as have pathogens such as Nosema, a gut fungus. Climate change, mono culture farming, drought and the Indian Hornet have also been thought to be possible causes. But there is certainly growing concern that neonicotinoids (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neonicotinoid) are a major factor.