Project about bees by Vilnius university students

[Laima]

Hello!

For our university project "Why bees may go extinct" we would like to interview some beekeepers! If you have a spare minute and would like to be a part of a project by students of Vilnius university, please answer to the questions below:
​

1. Where are you from and how long have you been a beekeeper?
2. What kind of negative effect humans activity has on bees?
3. Do you think that climate change can cause bees extinction?
4. What do you think about the current situation with bees?
5. Do you think that there is a possibility that bees may go extinct in the future? If yes, how long would it take?
6. What could we do to help save the bees?
7. Do you think that the use of pesticides and a habitat loss might be the main reasons why bees may go extinct? If not, what other reasons might cause that?

Thank you!

​

 

[masterBK]

1) Beekeeper for 62yrs in England (worcestershire 13 yrs yorkshire 49yrs)
2) habitat destruction (more a problem for solitary and bumble bees than honeybees) and use of pesticides, also monoculture.
3) Climate change will benefit some species and adversely affect others eg some species like the tree bumbe are thriving
4) Honeybees are doing OK as looked after by beekeepers but several other species on the decline
5) Several species will go extinct over next 50 yrs (but this natural selection process has of course been going on for millions of years but is probably accelerating in recent times) but others will adapt and take their ecological niche.
6) Plant more bee friendly flowers, restablish environments suitable for the rarer species and reintroduce them, introduce more rigorous controls of land use and use of harmfull chemcals
7) While habitat loss and pesticides have had a major impact it is a natural event for some species to replace the less successful ones. Introduction of pathogens, parasites and predators from other areas of the world eg Varroa mite, small hive beetle, asiatic hornet, if not controlled by man, greatly affect honeybee numbers

PS why accompany your post with a video clip of a social wasp? You do know the difference presumably

 

[Laima]

1) Beekeeper for 62yrs in England (worcestershire 13 yrs yorkshire 49yrs)
2) habitat destruction (more a problem for solitary and bumble bees than honeybees) and use of pesticides, also monoculture.
3) Climate change will benefit some species and adversely affect others eg some species like the tree bumbe are thriving
4) Honeybees are doing OK as looked after by beekeepers but several other species on the decline
5) Several species will go extinct over next 50 yrs (but this natural selection process has of course been going on for millions of years but is probably accelerating in recent times) but others will adapt and take their ecological niche.
6) Plant more bee friendly flowers, restablish environments suitable for the rarer species and reintroduce them, introduce more rigorous controls of land use and use of harmfull chemcals
7) While habitat loss and pesticides have had a major impact it is a natural event for some species to replace the less successful ones. Introduction of pathogens, parasites and predators from other areas of the world eg Varroa mite, small hive beetle, asiatic hornet, if not controlled by man, greatly affect honeybee numbers

PS why accompany your post with a video clip of a social wasp? You do know the difference presumably

Thank you very much for your answers! ❤

 

[masterBK]

Thank you very much for your answers! ❤

Thank you for replacing clip of wasp with clip of Honeybee

 

[Laima]

Thank you for replacing clip of wasp with clip of Honeybee

Haha! Sorry, I did not pay attention when I was choosing the gif. I know it was a wasp

 

[BugsInABox]

View attachment 22467Hello!

For our university project "Why bees may go extinct" we would like to interview some beekeepers! If you have a spare minute and would like to be a part of a project by students of Vilnius university, please answer to the questions below:
​

1. Where are you from and how long have you been a beekeeper?
2. What kind of negative effect humans activity has on bees?
3. Do you think that climate change can cause bees extinction?
4. What do you think about the current situation with bees?
5. Do you think that there is a possibility that bees may go extinct in the future? If yes, how long would it take?
6. What could we do to help save the bees?
7. Do you think that the use of pesticides and a habitat loss might be the main reasons why bees may go extinct? If not, what other reasons might cause that?

Thank you!

​

​

1)England, Yorkshire. 2 years
2)Chemicals, international queen introductions
3)No
4)Mostly they are ok
5)No
6)Breed locally adapted bees and for natural varroa resistance
7)Assumes yes to Q5

 

[madasafish]

1. Where are you from and how long have you been a beekeeper?
10 years
2. What kind of negative effect humans activity has on bees?
Pesticides, habitat loss, spread of diseases and pests
3. Do you think that climate change can cause bees extinction?
No. They are worldwide and will survive as long as there is food and water.
4. What do you think about the current situation with bees?
Under stress form humans but also looked after by humans. So 50/50
5. Do you think that there is a possibility that bees may go extinct in the future? If yes, how long would it take?
Many things become extinct.. Some in Millions of years..Some in decades.

6. What could we do to help save the bees?
Control pesticide use. Make farming more bee friendly. Persuade humans to stop covering gardens with decking or concrete.
7. Do you think that the use of pesticides and a habitat loss might be the main reasons why bees may go extinct? If not, what other reasons might cause that?
No. There will always be bee friendly places.

 

[Hachi]

1) Beekeeper for 62yrs in England (worcestershire 13 yrs yorkshire 49yrs)
2) habitat destruction (more a problem for solitary and bumble bees than honeybees) and use of pesticides, also monoculture.
3) Climate change will benefit some species and adversely affect others eg some species like the tree bumbe are thriving
4) Honeybees are doing OK as looked after by beekeepers but several other species on the decline
5) Several species will go extinct over next 50 yrs (but this natural selection process has of course been going on for millions of years but is probably accelerating in recent times) but others will adapt and take their ecological niche.
6) Plant more bee friendly flowers, restablish environments suitable for the rarer species and reintroduce them, introduce more rigorous controls of land use and use of harmfull chemcals
7) While habitat loss and pesticides have had a major impact it is a natural event for some species to replace the less successful ones. Introduction of pathogens, parasites and predators from other areas of the world eg Varroa mite, small hive beetle, asiatic hornet, if not controlled by man, greatly affect honeybee numbers

PS why accompany your post with a video clip of a social wasp? You do know the difference presumably

I find myself agreeing with the answers above except I'm a beek of 8 years so please count my contribution also. Will you share your study results please? It will be interesting to see the result.

 

[user 819]

1. England, Southeast. 14 years.
2. Habitat/forage loss. To many green spaces being lost.
3.No. Bees were here before humans and will be here after we have died out as a specie.
4.Solitary and semi social bees are at risk or in decline.
5.No.
6.Work with nature, reduce populations.
7.If tougher regulation isn't brought in then some may suffer as in #4.

 

[Laima]

I find myself agreeing with the answers above except I'm a beek of 8 years so please count my contribution also. Will you share your study results please? It will be interesting to see the result.

Hi! We will and yes, sure we will share the results! Thank you ❤

 

[Laima]

1. England, Southeast. 14 years.
2. Habitat/forage loss. To many green spaces being lost.
3.No. Bees were here before humans and will be here after we have died out as a specie.
4.Solitary and semi social bees are at risk or in decline.
5.No.
6.Work with nature, reduce populations.
7.If tougher regulation isn't brought in then some may suffer as in #4.

Thank you very much! Your replies were included ❤

 

[Laima]

1. Where are you from and how long have you been a beekeeper?
10 years
2. What kind of negative effect humans activity has on bees?
Pesticides, habitat loss, spread of diseases and pests
3. Do you think that climate change can cause bees extinction?
No. They are worldwide and will survive as long as there is food and water.
4. What do you think about the current situation with bees?
Under stress form humans but also looked after by humans. So 50/50
5. Do you think that there is a possibility that bees may go extinct in the future? If yes, how long would it take?
Many things become extinct.. Some in Millions of years..Some in decades.

6. What could we do to help save the bees?
Control pesticide use. Make farming more bee friendly. Persuade humans to stop covering gardens with decking or concrete.
7. Do you think that the use of pesticides and a habitat loss might be the main reasons why bees may go extinct? If not, what other reasons might cause that?
No. There will always be bee friendly places.

Thank you! ❤

 

[Brian Bush]

1. Where are you from and how long have you been a beekeeper? Buckinghamshire UK 12 years a beekeeper
2. What kind of negative effect humans activity has on bees? Monocrops and lack of forage diversity
3. Do you think that climate change can cause bees extinction? No I believe they will adapt
4. What do you think about the current situation with bees? We need to remember that they can only adapt slowly to one pest or environmental change at a time
5. Do you think that there is a possibility that bees may go extinct in the future? If yes, how long would it take? No I believe they will outlast mankind
6. What could we do to help save the bees? More awareness of their role and altering the way we farm
7. Do you think that the use of pesticides and a habitat loss might be the main reasons why bees may go extinct? If not, what other reasons might cause that? Wrongful use of pesticides and loss of habitat will severely affect the whole ecosystem. I believe that bees will probably struggle through

 

[Laima]

1. Where are you from and how long have you been a beekeeper? Buckinghamshire UK 12 years a beekeeper
2. What kind of negative effect humans activity has on bees? Monocrops and lack of forage diversity
3. Do you think that climate change can cause bees extinction? No I believe they will adapt
4. What do you think about the current situation with bees? We need to remember that they can only adapt slowly to one pest or environmental change at a time
5. Do you think that there is a possibility that bees may go extinct in the future? If yes, how long would it take? No I believe they will outlast mankind
6. What could we do to help save the bees? More awareness of their role and altering the way we farm
7. Do you think that the use of pesticides and a habitat loss might be the main reasons why bees may go extinct? If not, what other reasons might cause that? Wrongful use of pesticides and loss of habitat will severely affect the whole ecosystem. I believe that bees will probably struggle through

Thank you very much! Your answers were added! ❤

 

[Podilia]

1. Where are you from and how long have you been a beekeeper?
Ukraine, west-center. May be 8 years.
2. What kind of negative effect humans activity has on bees?
All human activities that demage the environment more than it's ability to recover. Especially large-scale farming.
3. Do you think that climate change can cause bees extinction?
Depending of the regions. For example, southern and eastern Ukraine are gradually turning into a kind of semi-desert. Steppe ecosystem is removing to the north and west. For bees it means poor nutrition and deseas. Sure they can adapt after some period. I'm not sure they will be productive for people. I've watched video from the beekeepers of southern Russian region Kuban (no, it's not Cuba). There are the same droughts and the process of desertification as in southern Ukraine. In the summer the temperature reached 40-45°C. Their colonies were in miserable conditions (one brood box - about 8 frames in the middle of the active season), unable to produce honey. Heat also affected their main plants - sunflower and acacia. Acacia dropped leaves, it's hardly possible it will give them honey next summer.
4. What do you think about the current situation with bees?
Not good. Too much harmful chemicals in the environment, too much monocultures (soy, corn). Unpredicted future climate and weather, widespread wildfires. I think that the large commercial beekeeping will be impossible in the future in some countries.
5. Do you think that there is a possibility that bees may go extinct in the future? If yes, how long would it take?
They may not extinct completely, but in my opinion it is possible in many regions until 2050. Because the negative changes are mostly man-made, not natural.
6. What could we do to help save the bees?
People above wrote a lot about it, so I'm agree with them.
7. Do you think that the use of pesticides and a habitat loss might be the main reasons why bees may go extinct? If not, what other reasons might cause that?
Yes, this is the main reason in Ukraine. And in addition climate change will make the area from 48 parallel to the Black Sea including parts of Russian south unfavorable for bees.

 

[Laima]

1. Where are you from and how long have you been a beekeeper?
Ukraine, west-center. May be 8 years.
2. What kind of negative effect humans activity has on bees?
All human activities that demage the environment more than it's ability to recover. Especially large-scale farming.
3. Do you think that climate change can cause bees extinction?
Depending of the regions. For example, southern and eastern Ukraine are gradually turning into a kind of semi-desert. Steppe ecosystem is removing to the north and west. For bees it means poor nutrition and deseas. Sure they can adapt after some period. I'm not sure they will be productive for people. I've watched video from the beekeepers of southern Russian region Kuban (no, it's not Cuba). There are the same droughts and the process of desertification as in southern Ukraine. In the summer the temperature reached 40-45°C. Their colonies were in miserable conditions (one brood box - about 8 frames in the middle of the active season), unable to produce honey. Heat also affected their main plants - sunflower and acacia. Acacia dropped leaves, it's hardly possible it will give them honey next summer.
4. What do you think about the current situation with bees?
Not good. Too much harmful chemicals in the environment, too much monocultures (soy, corn). Unpredicted future climate and weather, widespread wildfires. I think that the large commercial beekeeping will be impossible in the future in some countries.
5. Do you think that there is a possibility that bees may go extinct in the future? If yes, how long would it take?
They may not extinct completely, but in my opinion it is possible in many regions until 2050. Because the negative changes are mostly man-made, not natural.
6. What could we do to help save the bees?
People above wrote a lot about it, so I'm agree with them.
7. Do you think that the use of pesticides and a habitat loss might be the main reasons why bees may go extinct? If not, what other reasons might cause that?
Yes, this is the main reason in Ukraine. And in addition climate change will make the area from 48 parallel to the Black Sea including parts of Russian south unfavorable for bees.

Thank you a lot! Your replies were included ❤