During the ecological crisis that you don't know.

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Beekeepers watch bees disappear

(illustration by Qian Lian / Raven Photography / Huang Jifeng, Wang Shihao)

When a small bee disappears, why does it attract the attention of countries all over the world and invest a lot of manpower and material resources in research one after another?

The impact behind it is not as simple as worrying that there will be no more delicious honey, but an important issue related to the ecological balance of nature and human survival.

"I haven't grown towel gourd for years because it all depends on artificial pollination." Bian Yufen, a farmer who has been working on the organic farm in Yunlin Ma Garden for 12 years, said that in recent years, not only the number of bees has obviously decreased, but also their vitality and pollination power has greatly decreased, so that many melons and fruits have to switch to artificial pollination. When towel gourd is in full bloom, you have to brush your head on the flowers for three or four hours a day, not only hot and tired, but also sore all over the body, completely unable to take care of other crops. As a last resort, she had to give up towel gourd.

At the other end of the farm, Chen Junnan, a young farmer, shared his situation in growing cucumbers. The cucumbers that are completely pollinated by bees are straight and beautiful, while those with incomplete pollination are curved and become special products. "in terms of one minute, the normal harvest of 2-3 tons of cucumbers may drop to 1 ton or less without bees, so now cucumbers are improved to be androgynous."

Malformed fruits are produced when crops such as melons, strawberries or pears are not fully pollinated.

Without insect pollination, the diversity of crops will disappear.

"when bees disappear, the first thing they do harm is melon and fruit crops, because almost all melons and fruits have to be pollinated by bees." Dr. Zhang Shiyang, an agricultural expert, said. The impact is that the diversity of crops is gradually disappearing, resulting in fewer food sources. The impact of the disappearance of bees will not only stop here, but also affect the balance and survival of the whole natural ecology.

Yang Encheng, a professor of entomology at National Taiwan University, said that the disappearance of bees seems to be a single phenomenon on the surface. However, there will be a significant reduction in the number of bees, indicating that other pollinating insects are also at risk of disappearing. "what we are worried about is that the disappearance of bees could be a knock-on effect or the tip of the iceberg. Because what we see now is only bees, not the problems of other insects. How terrible would it be if there were no insects in the world? " According to statistics, more than 1/4 species of insects in the world are decreasing, and as many as 1/3 species are endangered and about to disappear.

Pesticides can pollute the air, soil and water.

Professor Yang Encheng said that improper use of pesticides is one of the reasons for the decline in the number of bees. "if pesticides are sprayed in agricultural areas, do you think they will only stay in agricultural areas?" Professor Yang shook his head and said that less than 1/10 of the chemicals sprayed by farmers would be attached to plants, while 90% would enter the environment, mix with air up and down into groundwater. If these chemicals are absorbed by the soil, they will cause soil deterioration and kill insects or microorganisms in the soil. But what is most worrying is that pesticides entering the aquifer will have a more far-reaching impact as the watershed spreads.

In summer in western Taiwan, it often rains in the northwest. Farmers spray medicine in the morning, and after it rains in the afternoon, the potion flows to the stream with Rain Water. "even if the dose of pesticides in water is very low, it may still cause relatively small aquatic organisms, or environmental indicators of biological poisoning. The most frightening thing about nicotine-like agents is that they cannot be absorbed by the soil and can remain in water for a long time. "

According to foreign research, Yida amine will not disappear in water for 5 years, and some nicotine-like agents will not disappear for 30 years. Yang Encheng said: "Bees are also insects that can collect water." And like when I was a child, I saw a lot of dragonflies, but now I seldom see them. " After the enemy disappears, the number of insects harmful to humans will increase, which is why there are fewer dragonflies and more mosquitoes. "the consequences of destroying the ecological balance cannot be imagined by you or me."

Organic agriculture is friendly not only to the earth but also to bees.

When the bees gradually disappear, how do farmers respond or save themselves? Bian Yufen thought for a moment and said, "it's very difficult!" Although some crops can be improved to reduce the need for pollination by bees, most crops that need pollination can only be pollinated manually after the bees cannot work. However, farmers in Taiwan are generally old, and artificial pollination crops that require a lot of labor are gradually becoming uncultivated. In this way, the diversification of crops will gradually disappear. "

"We are unconsciously harming the habitats of many creatures in order to pursue our own interests. Let us know through the bees that the environment has really become bad. " Bian Yufen said that the top priority is not only to find alternatives, but also to find back the closest little helper in agricultural production. It is the sustainable task of this group of organic farmers to adhere to friendly farming, do not use pesticides and fertilizers, and protect the land that supports diverse ecology.

When there are fewer bees, farmers have to pollinate crops artificially, which is time-consuming and ineffective.

The original text of ◎ is published in the 58th issue of p10~p11 for the United States.

To protect bees, you can do this!