Bees, Butterflies, and Blooms: The Importance of Pollinators to Our Ecosystems

Have you walked out to your car lately and seen a film of green/yellow dust on your windshield? Yep, us too. And guess what? It’s pollen. We just passed National Pollinator Week (June 22-28, 2020) to recognize the animals responsible for the growth of almost all of our wildflowers found around the globe and there’s good reason a whole week is dedicated to them

How Does Pollination Work?

In science speak, pollination is the movement of pollen from male structures (called anthers) of flowers to the female structures (called stigma) of the same plant species. The fertilization helps the flower produce seeds (as well as the fruit) and ensure that a new generation of plants can grow.

Did you know that there are an estimated 300,000 species of flowering plants worldwide that require animal pollinators?! That’s a lot of flowers!

I don’t get it. What exactly are animal pollinators?

When we say “animal-assisted pollination” or “animal-mediated pollination,” we’re talking about pollinators. Pollinators are animals that carry pollen from one plant to another, like honeybees! But, bees aren’t the only helpers out there. Many types of critters like butterflies, beetles, flies, hummingbirds, and bats also assist in the pollination of our plants. 

Pollination isn’t just good for the plants themselves; it’s also great for the pollinators! Nectar provides pollinators with carbohydrates while pollen offers proteins, fats, minerals, and necessary vitamins.

Why are pollinators so important?

Pollinators’ importance runs deep. First: Did you know that pollinators are responsible for a third of our cropped plants in the United States? That’s a ton of plants!

Secondly: Our diets would suffer without the pollinators. These happy creatures pollinate all of the fruits and vegetables humans eat for vitamins and nutrients. Our bodies would be a mess without them.

Beyond that, approximately 80-95% of the plants found in their natural habitats require pollination by animals. This means that animals are the only way that their species can survive. 

In non-water ecosystems, pollinators are called “keystone” species. Without them, the entire ecosystem can collapse (much like a keystone in architecture – see the photo?) If bees, butterflies, and other pollinators vanished from the ecosystem, native plants would practically disappear, causing a ripple effect in nature. Without native plants, there would be minimal shelter for critters (like mice or lizards) who rely on them to hide from predators (like hawks).  With no food for the predators, they’d leave the area too.  

The TL;DR version: in order to maintain the diversity of our natural ecosystems, we need healthy pollinators!  

Why are pollinators in trouble?

There are thousands of bee species around the world, with more than 4,000 species in the U.S. alone. Since 2006, bees have been dying at alarming rates (i.e., 30 percent annual hive losses). Scientists are calling this “Colony Collapse Disorder.”

Scientists struggle to find a single reason for the decline but believe it’s the combination of two major factors. First, farming practices changed, bringing in broad-spectrum pesticides which are proven to destroy critical pollinator habitats. Secondly, human activities like  urban development and deforestation have created swaths of uninhabitable lands through sensitive pollinator habitats. 

What Can I Do?

Here are a few steps we can all take to help out our pollinators:

• Create a garden. If you live in the US or Canada, a great resource for this is the Pollinator Partnership organization. Visit their pollinator-friendly planting guides here and type in your postal code to get the native plants you’ll need to create a pollinator-friendly space.

• Create as much “green space” as you can outside your home. If you have a balcony or small outdoor space, fill it with plants that are pollinator-friendly. Try to not have too much pavement or spaces that create fragmented habitat. Use a variety of flower colors and shapes to attract different pollinators.

• Choose plants that flower at different times of the year to provide nectar and pollen sources throughout the growing season.

• Avoid the use of pesticides and stop buying plants from stores that are known to use pesticides. Many big box stores still use a common pesticide (i.e., neonicotinoids for the parents in the room!) that is very harmful to bee populations. Visit the Friends of the Earth website to find stores working to eliminate the use of pesticides. Ask your local nursery what their practices are and what plants are best suited for your area.

• Try this at home: Put out a shallow dish filled with water and half-submerged stones for resting perches. Pollinators need water breaks too!

Written by our Mother Lovin’ Sustainability Expert, Sarah Lamagna