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Beebo Brink · 08-16-2008, 09:06 PM

I've been slacking lately, so my apologies for the inadvertent appearance of optimism on my part. Remedy below:

Honeybee deaths reaching crisis point
1 in 3 of UK's honeybees did not survive winter and spring
Pollination of fruit and vegetables at risk

Alison Benjamin
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday August 12 2008 15:59 BST

Britain's honeybees have suffered catastrophic losses this year, according to a survey of the nation's beekeepers, contributing to a shortage of honey and putting at risk the pollination of fruits and vegetables.

The survey by the British Beekeepers' Association (BBKA) revealed that nearly one in three of the UK's 240,000 honeybee hives did not survive this winter and spring.

The losses are higher than the one in five colonies reported dead earlier this year by the government after 10% of hives had been inspected.

The BBKA president, Tim Lovett, said he was very concerned about the findings: "Average winter bee losses due to poor weather and disease vary from between 5% and 10%, so a 30% loss is deeply worrying. This spells serious trouble for pollination services and honey producers."

more:
Honeybee deaths reaching crisis point threatening fruit and vegetable pollination | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Raindrop Drinkwater · 08-17-2008, 03:08 AM

I don't know what I can say about this, except that I'm worried.

Malachi · 08-17-2008, 08:31 AM

This reminds me of the "frog malformations" that got their greatest attention in the mid-1990s. I thought they'd figured out the cause and could therefore address it. It appears that the problem is still there and multiple possible causes have been found but it still seems that we're not really sure what's going on.

The odd thing is, I don't tend to the alarmist side in ecological news, but these stories seem to be piling up about some of the most numerous species around.

See Decline in amphibian populations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and its references, and Colony Collapse Disorder - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - honeybee collapses aren't limited to the UK.

Surreal Farber · 08-17-2008, 10:34 AM

stupid fucking humans

Quote:

The Honey Association warned last month that English honey will run out by Christmas and no more will be available until summer 2009.

Quote:

Farming minister, Lord Rooker, has predicted the demise of the honeybee within a decade.

Beebo Brink · 08-17-2008, 11:55 AM

The effect on agriculture is going to be very very grim.

Siobhan OFlynn · 08-17-2008, 11:56 AM

I'm rapidly losing hope for the future.

Beebo Brink · 08-17-2008, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siobhan OFlynn

I'm rapidly losing hope for the future.

Then my work here is done.

08-16-2008, 09:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Beebo Brink Uppity Alt I'm the woman your mother warned you about. Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,090 SL Join Date: October 2006 Business: Brazen Women Shapes and Skins SLShopper Ads: 20 My Mood:	Honeybee deaths reaching crisis point I've been slacking lately, so my apologies for the inadvertent appearance of optimism on my part. Remedy below: Honeybee deaths reaching crisis point 1 in 3 of UK's honeybees did not survive winter and spring Pollination of fruit and vegetables at risk Alison Benjamin guardian.co.uk, Tuesday August 12 2008 15:59 BST Britain's honeybees have suffered catastrophic losses this year, according to a survey of the nation's beekeepers, contributing to a shortage of honey and putting at risk the pollination of fruits and vegetables. The survey by the British Beekeepers' Association (BBKA) revealed that nearly one in three of the UK's 240,000 honeybee hives did not survive this winter and spring. The losses are higher than the one in five colonies reported dead earlier this year by the government after 10% of hives had been inspected. The BBKA president, Tim Lovett, said he was very concerned about the findings: "Average winter bee losses due to poor weather and disease vary from between 5% and 10%, so a 30% loss is deeply worrying. This spells serious trouble for pollination services and honey producers." more: Honeybee deaths reaching crisis point threatening fruit and vegetable pollination \| Environment \| guardian.co.uk __________________ Browse http://www.BrazenWomen.com

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08-17-2008, 08:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
Malachi the bathwater & the baby fish are inherently sarcastic Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,470	This reminds me of the "frog malformations" that got their greatest attention in the mid-1990s. I thought they'd figured out the cause and could therefore address it. It appears that the problem is still there and multiple possible causes have been found but it still seems that we're not really sure what's going on. The odd thing is, I don't tend to the alarmist side in ecological news, but these stories seem to be piling up about some of the most numerous species around. See Decline in amphibian populations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and its references, and Colony Collapse Disorder - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - honeybee collapses aren't limited to the UK.

08-17-2008, 11:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
Beebo Brink Uppity Alt I'm the woman your mother warned you about. Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,090 SL Join Date: October 2006 Business: Brazen Women Shapes and Skins SLShopper Ads: 20 My Mood:	The effect on agriculture is going to be very very grim.