When we talk about pollinators, bees are probably the first thing that comes to mind. But there are so many others that play an important part in helping plants grow. In fact, at least 960 species of birds are pollinators, along with other insects, mammals, and even reptiles!
Without pollinators, one third of our food crops wouldn’t be able to reproduce, along with many of the crops we use in textiles and medicine. Pollinators also improve the quality of a lot of our foods and food security, so they really are crucial for the environment and our way of life. But, with pollinator populations in decline, there are plenty of ways that we can help to support pollinators and ensure their survival. Which is just part of the reason why we started the B & B Highway but more on that later.
What are pollinators?
Pollinators, as the name suggests, help with the pollination of plants by spreading pollen from one plant to another. For flowering plants, they mostly do this by spreading pollen from the male reproductive organs in plants (called the stamen) to the female reproductive organs (called the stigma) so that seeds and fruits can be made. And, many pollinators also help maintain the genetic diversity and biodiversity of plants by sharing the pollen with plants that are further away which haven’t reproduced together before. But who are these pollinators?
Insect pollinators make up the majority of pollinators, and include bees, wasps, beetles, flies, butterflies, moths, and even ants and mosquitoes. And they play a huge part in pollination, with around 65% of flowering plants and an even higher amount of crops needing insects to pollinate them. But, while the familiar, black and gold European bees are important, our native insects are especially crucial in pollinating our native flora. In Australian subtropical rainforests, the majority of pollinators are small insects — think flies, mosquitoes and beetles. In fact, some plant species can only be pollinated by particular species of insects. In the case of native Australian fig trees, they need specific species of fig wasps to pollinate them, and the wasps can only reproduce inside the figs.
However, while they might not make up the majority, vertebrate pollinators are pretty important too. These include birds, bats, rodents and reptiles, and they are particularly crucial for temperate and tropical areas. An absence of these pollinators can also have pretty noticeable effects. In a study conducted at the University of Southampton, researchers found that there was a 63% reduction in the number of fruits and seeds produced when vertebrate pollinators were prevented from pollinating. And, this number increased to a whopping 83% reduction when bats were excluded from pollinating.
What’s happening to our pollinators?
For more than a decade, we’ve been seeing a decline in pollinator populations across the world. Every year, an average of 2.5 bird and mammal pollinators become one step closer to extinction, while bee populations have been facing mass die-offs. With native pollinators, such as those found in Australia, it’s harder to spot population declines due to a lack of historical data on our pollinator communities. But, with the effects of climate change on habitats and the frequency of extreme weather conditions, as well as the increase in pesticide use that comes with industrial farming, we can be fairly certain that our pollinators are having a hard time adjusting.
How can we help?
The easiest way to help is in our own backyards. Planting native flowering plants with differently shaped and sized flowers — especially if they’re native to your local area — is the best way to help native pollinators by giving them a top food-source: pollen and nectar. Plus, if you include plants that flower at different points during the year, this gives pollinators access to nectar and pollen throughout the year. And, if you want to attract native bees to your garden, you can build them some shelter in the form of an insect hotel — and you can follow these handy instructions.
FoodFaith has started the B & B Highway which by early 2020 will have 30 locations throughout Sydney. With a focus on native insect species, installing hives and insect hotels and building gardens, our B & B Highway locations will help to make Sydney a sanctuary for people and pollinators.
Ultimately, there are plenty of contributors to the decline of pollinators that we can’t fix on our own. By working to minimise the effects of climate change, investing in modern farming practices that get the job done while minimising environmental impact, and holding decision-makers responsible for the decisions they make that affect our environment, we can support pollinators and ensure that they continue to thrive.