Write an expository essay about threatened species.

Question

Write an expository essay about threatened species.

Your expository essay must be based on this prompt and topic, and it must incorporate ideas and information found in the sources provided.

When we think of bees, we think of pesky, buzzing insects that sting us and ruin outdoor gatherings. We might wonder: how badly can we possibly need bees? The truth is, bees are an incredibly important part of our ecosystem on Earth—no matter how annoying they may be to humans.

Unfortunately, bees have been disappearing around the world for some time now, and their mass disappearance continues to present new problems around the planet.
According to Reuters news source, scientific researchers have been trying desperately for the past 15 years to understand why honeybees around the world are dying off at frighteningly high rates. Over 1 million bee colonies disappear every year, never to return, Reuters reporters noted in 2012.

Kevin Hackett, the national program leader for the bee and pollination program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), called the massive honeybee disappearance “the biggest general threat to our food supply.”
How could something so small be so important to us as humans? Bees are used to pollinate many crops, for instance a large portion of California’s almond crop, which relies heavily on bee pollination. Bees are also essential for the pollination of apple and citrus fruit crops. Without the pollination by bees, these plants are unable to reproduce and may die off.

The mass deaths of honeybees have been linked to something known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)—a mysterious loss of bee colonies with many potential causes—as well as a variety of pesticides, parasites and disease, all of which hurt bee populations. Other possible causes include land development and changes in agricultural practices around the world.

There are numerous kinds and species of bees, and honeybees are not the only ones disappearing in large quantities. Bumblebees can be added to the list of pollinators whose widespread disappearance worries scientists. While the dangers of losing bees, such as the damage to our food supplies, have long been known, researchers are uncovering even more distressing information about the loss of these ecologically crucial insects.

According to researchers who published their findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2013, the disappearance of bumblebees offers new cause for concern: certain plants are having difficulties reproducing with the loss of their bumblebee pollinators, and are at higher risk for extinction.

Two scientists, who conducted research on the impact of bumblebee loss on plant reproduction, found that when a particular species of bumblebee was removed from the pool of pollinators, other bees did not completely take over the pollinating duties. Instead, with less competition from the bees which had been removed from the pool, the remaining bumblebees flew between many different plants and were less likely to be faithful to one kind of plant.

The researchers noted this experiment had damaging effects. For instance, the larkspur, a purple wildflower, requires pollination from its own species—other larkspurs—to survive. The researchers found with fewer bumblebees, the remaining bees were “less faithful” to a particular plant, meaning the larkspur was unable to survive as it would have before the loss of bumblebees.

This particular study highlights the importance of bees to the continuation of, not just our food supply, but also all biodiversity, as the effects of this study do not end with the larkspur plant alone, but point to a much larger issue. The larkspur is just one example of this issue.

In 2012, the USDA and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a joint statement discussing the issue of bee loss, and the search for a solution to the cycle of problems caused by bees dying off.
The organizations concluded: “No single silver bullet will solve the problems affecting honey bees and other pollinators.”

In terms of solutions, the organizations proposed: “Habitat enhancement…targeted pesticide use, improved colony management techniques and improved disease and pest resistant stocks of bees are collectively needed to improve the health of honey bee colonies.”
“It is imperative that we increase honey bee survival both to make beekeeping profitable,” the statement noted, “but more importantly to meet the demands of U.S. agriculture for pollination and thus ensure of food security.”

Answer 1

Bot GPT 4-o mini answered
15 days ago

The Importance of Bees and the Threats they Face

When discussing the intricate web of life on Earth, many people might overlook the humble bee, viewing it merely as a buzzing insect that disrupts picnics and outdoor activities. However, bees play a critical role in our ecosystem, acting as indispensable pollinators for many plants, including numerous crops that form the backbone of our food supply. In recent years, a troubling trend has emerged: the alarming decline of bee populations across the globe. This essay explores the significance of bees to our ecosystem, the causes behind their decline, and the ecological ramifications of their potential extinction.

Bees are vital to pollination, a process that allows plants to reproduce. In particular, honeybees have been identified as crucial contributors to the pollination of various crops, such as almonds, apples, and citrus fruits. As Kevin Hackett, a national program leader at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has remarked, the "biggest general threat to our food supply" stems from the mass disappearance of honeybees. Unfortunately, this disappearance has reached alarming rates, with over one million bee colonies vanishing annually. This trend poses severe risks not only to agriculture but also to the broader environmental fabric.

The phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has been linked to the deaths of honeybees and is attributed to a combination of factors, including pesticides, parasites, diseases, and shifts in agricultural practices and land use. Moreover, the problem extends beyond honeybees, with bumblebee species also showing concerning declines. Researchers have found that the loss of bumblebees has far-reaching implications, affecting the reproductive success of various plants that depend on these specific pollinators.

A 2013 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences illustrated how the loss of bumblebee species undermines plant reproduction. The researchers discovered that when certain bumblebee species were removed from a habitat, the remaining bees were less efficient in pollinating specific plants, such as the larkspur. As these remaining bees toured a wider range of flowers, they became "less faithful" to the larkspur and, consequently, hindered its reproductive success. This phenomenon indicates that the decline of a single pollinator can trigger a domino effect, leading to the potential extinction of plant species that are vital for biodiversity.

The situation is grave enough that in 2012, the USDA and Environmental Protection Agency released a joint statement acknowledging the crisis facing bee populations. They emphasized that addressing the ongoing decline would require a multifaceted approach, incorporating habitat enhancement, targeted pesticide application, improved colony management practices, and verifying disease and pest-resistant strains of bees. Collectively, these measures are crucial for bolstering bee health and agricultural sustainability.

In conclusion, bees are not just pesky insects; they are fundamental to the survival of numerous plant species and, by extension, the food supply that sustains human life. Their ongoing decline threatens not only agriculture but the entire ecosystem's biodiversity. As research continues to uncover the complex relationship between bees and the plants they pollinate, it becomes increasingly clear that we must take concerted action to protect these invaluable creatures. The survival of bees is integrally linked to human well-being, and it is imperative that steps be taken to secure their future before it is too late.

Answer 2

coolnicenicee809 answered
15 days ago

only 3 paragraphs.

Answer 3

Bot GPT 4-o mini answered
15 days ago

The Importance of Bees and the Threats They Face

Bees play a crucial role in our ecosystem as essential pollinators of many crops and plants, significantly impacting food production and biodiversity. Honeybees, in particular, are vital for the pollination of a variety of crops, such as almonds, apples, and citrus fruits. Kevin Hackett, a national program leader at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has stated that the disappearance of honeybees represents “the biggest general threat to our food supply.” Alarmingly, this decline includes over one million bee colonies that vanish each year, posing severe risks to agriculture and the interconnected ecosystems that rely on these insects.

The phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has been significantly linked to the alarming loss of bee populations. Various factors contribute to this crisis, including pesticides, parasites, diseases, land development, and changes in agricultural practices. Moreover, the decline isn't limited to honeybees; studies have shown that bumblebees are also facing significant reductions. Research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences highlights how the loss of bumblebee species adversely affects specific plant species, such as larkspurs, which struggle to reproduce without their dedicated pollinators. This decline underscores the intricate dependencies within ecosystems, where the loss of one species can lead to a cascading effect on others.

To mitigate the decline of bee populations, coordinated efforts are essential. In a joint statement, the USDA and Environmental Protection Agency emphasized that no single solution would suffice; instead, a comprehensive approach involving habitat enhancement, targeted pesticide use, improved beekeeping practices, and developing disease-resistant bee stocks is necessary. The survival of bees is crucial not only for ensuring food security but also for maintaining global biodiversity. Without these valuable pollinators, the threat of ecological imbalance and a compromised food supply becomes increasingly alarming, highlighting the urgency of immediate and effective conservation efforts.