Bee Pollination in Agricultural Ecosystems

Description:

Discusses the interplay among bees, agriculture and the environment. Pollinators include honeybees, managed bumblebees, solitary bees and wild bees. Bees also impact the broader ecosystem, spreading genes from genetically engineered plants, and increasing 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 factors that must take into consideration are treated here including bee natural history, physiology, pathology, and behavior