Biodiversity
As can be seen with the process of cross-pollination insects play a mayor role in the survival of certain plant species. This leads to competition between plants to attract pollinators that will increase their survival rate. This and other factors have lead to the development of specialization between flowers and pollinators. The result is that certain plant species can only be pollinated by certain insects. The Madagascan orchid (Angraecum sesquipedal) have a nectar tube of 30 cm and is pollinated by a moth Xanthopan morgana praedicta with a proboscis of the same length.
It can be said that plants that have such specialized pollinators may share the same threat status when the pollinator becomes endangered. When the pollinator becomes extinct the plants with extreme specialization with it will become the living dead. As can be seen that the lost of certain pollinators have far more reaching effect on the biodiversity than the lost of only one specie.
It can be said that plants that have such specialized pollinators may share the same threat status when the pollinator becomes endangered. When the pollinator becomes extinct the plants with extreme specialization with it will become the living dead. As can be seen that the lost of certain pollinators have far more reaching effect on the biodiversity than the lost of only one specie.
Agriculture
As we know by now pollinators play a key role in the production of fruits and plants. For every one out of three bites of food we eat is there because it was pollinated. That means more than 1200 crop species need pollination to provide food. This makes pollination one of the most important ecosystem services for a farmer. On the other side of the farm, it is the use of chemical pesticides that in some cases leads to the decline in pollinators. Food security in the world relies heavily on the survival of pollinators.
Economics
As we know now pollination is an essential service to agriculture. The monetary value of this service is estimated at US $65-70 billion per year in the USA. It is estimated that pollinators add 217 billion dollars to the global economy per year. Pollinator-dependent crops are generally eaten for variety in the human diet (e.g. fruit) . In a country where they are cultivated a large portion is exported, this creates economic growth.
In addition to the food that we eat, pollinators support healthy ecosystems that clean the air, stabilize soils, protect from sever weather, and support other wildlife.
In addition to the food that we eat, pollinators support healthy ecosystems that clean the air, stabilize soils, protect from sever weather, and support other wildlife.