Bee Pollination in Agricultural Ecosystems

by Rosalind James (Editor), Theresa L. Pitts-Singer (Editor)

Overview

For many agricultural crops, bees play a vital role as pollinators, and this book discusses the interplay among bees, agriculture, and the environment. Although honey bees are well recognized as pollinators, managed bumble bees and solitary bees are also critical for the successful pollination of certain crops, while wild bees provide a free service. As bees liberally pass pollen from one plant to the next, they also impact the broader ecosystem, and not always to the benefit of humankind. Bees can enhance the unintentional spread of genes from genetically engineered plants, and may increase the spread of invasive weeds. Conversely, genetically engineered plants can impact pollinators, and invasive weeds can supply new sources of food for these insects. Bees' flower-visiting activities also can be exploited to help spread biological control agents that control crop pests, and they are important for native plant reproduction. Managing bees for pollination is complex and the factors that must be taken into consideration are treated here, including bee natural history, physiology, pathology, and behavior. Furthermore, transporting bees from native ranges to new areas for pollination services can be controversial, and needs to be done only after assuring that it will not disrupt various ecosystems. Even though bees are small, unobtrusive creatures, they play large roles in the ecosystem. The connection between bees and humankind also is symbolic of a broader interconnection between humans and the natural world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199717873
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	09/09/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Rosalind R. James is Research Leader of the USDA Agricultural Research Services Pollinating Insect Biology, Systematics, and Management Research Unit in Logan, Utah. Theresa L. Pitts-Singer is a Research Entomologist in the USDA Agricultural Research Services Bee Biology and Systematics Laboratory in Logan, Utah.

Table of Contents

Forword Christopher O'Toole v

Contributors xiii

Part 1 Bee-Provided Delivery Services

Chapter 1 Bees in Nature and on the Farm Theresa L. Pitts-Singer Rosalind R. James 3

Chapter 2 Crop Pollination Services From Wild Bees Claire Kremen 10

Chapter 3 Crop Pollination in Greenhouses José M. Guerra-Sanz 27

Chapter 4 Pollinating Bees Crucial to Farming Wildflower Seed for U.S. Habitat Restoration James H. Cane 48

Chapter 5 Honey Bees, Bumble Bees, and Biocontrol: New Alliances Between Old Friends Peter G. Kevan Jean-Pierre Kapongo Mohammad Al-mazra'awi Les Shipp 65

Part 2 Managing Solitary Bees

Chapter 6 Life Cycle Ecophysiology of Osmia Mason Bees Used as Crop Pollinators Jordi Bosch Fabio Sgolastra William P. Kemp 83

Chapter 7 Past and Present Management of Alfalfa Bees Theresa L. Pitts-Singer 105

Chapter 8 The Problem of Disease When Domesticating Bees Rosalind R. James 124

Part 3 Environmental Risks Associated With Bees

Chapter 9 Environmental Impact of Exotic Bees Introduced for Crop Pollination Carlos H. Vergara 145

Chapter 10 Invasive Exotic Plant-Bee Interactions Karen Goodell 166

Chapter 11 Estimating the Potential for Bee-Mediated Gene Flow in Genetically Modified Crops James E. Cresswell 184

Chapter 12 Genetically Modified Crops: Effects on Bees and Pollination Lora A. Morandin 203

Chapter 13 The Future of Agricultural Pollination Rosalind R. James Theresa L. Pitts-Singer 219

Index 223

Editorial Reviews

"This book will go a long way toward keeping non-Apis bees in the limelight. It represents a compendium of the latest thinking on the issues surrounding the place of wild bees in sustainable agriculture. I highly recommend it for readers interested in the public conversation on bee decline and pollination."—Keith S. Delaplane, The Quarterly Review of Biology

From the Publisher