Research Proposal on "Colony Collapse Disorder in Honeybee Populations"

Research Proposal 4 pages (1332 words) Sources: 4 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Colony Collapse Disorder in Honeybee Populations

The honeybee population in the United States is currently undergoing a collapse of devastating proportions. Reports state that honeybees leave their colonies in search of nectar and pollen and never return resulting in a decline of approximately fifty-percent in the honeybee population over the last five decades. This phenomenon is not yet understood. This is critically important for scientists to understand because the food supply is dependent upon bee pollination and in fact Cornell University reports that "honeybees annually pollinate more than $14 billion worth of seeds and crops in the United States." (Evans, 2007) This work explores the possible causes of this decline in the honeybee population and surprisingly finds that research conducted nearly six decades ago has revealed the likely cause of this problem.

COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER IN HONEYBEE POPULATIONS

INTRODUCTION

The honeybee population in the United States is currently undergoing a collapse of devastating proportions. Reports state that honeybees leave their colonies in search of nectar and pollen and never return resulting in a decline of approximately fifty-percent in the honeybee population over the last five decades. This phenomenon is not yet understood. This is critically important for scientists to understand because the food supply is dependent upon bee pollination and in fact Cornell University reports that "honeybees annually pollinate more than $14 billion worth of seeds and crops in the United States." (Evans, 2007)

I. CAUSES OF CCD

Until recently the honeybee decline has been attributed primarily to diseases such as mites and other parasites and also to pesticides which are sprayed on crops. One report states that pesticides, specifically neonicotinioid pesticides, including imidacloprid, clothianiden and thiamethoxam, poison the bee while it is in the process of collecting nectar and pollen. The poisoning may occur when the material is ingested, or it may be transported to the hive where it poisons other bees in the colony." (Evans, 2007)

It is reported in Wired Magazine that bees "have a highly developed sense of smell -- at least 40 times more sensitive than humans. Within 30 seconds of exposure to a chemical agent, a colony of bees will change the sound it produces. And it's not simply that they get louder, all the frequencies shift and change producing a unique sonic signature that can be used to identify the agent." (Lorge, 2007) This report states that researchers are using tiny microphones set up at the entrance of the hive that is threatened and that a technology that the U.S. Army uses to detect airborne toxins allows them to quickly assess hive health.

II. ELECTROMAGNETIC EFFECTS ON BEES

Little acknowledged by the scientific community thus far is a report that has come out of Germany entitled: "Varroa Mite or Electromagnetic Fields? New Research into the Death of Bees: Letter to Beeskeepers and Beekeeper Associations" published March 16th 2008 which states that following ten years of study it has been determined that electromagnetic frequencies are negatively affecting bee colonies. The report states specifically as follows:

"Bees and other insects, just as birds, use the earth's magnetic field and high frequency electromagnetic energy such as light. They accomplish orientation and navigation by means of free radicals as well as a simultaneously reacting magnetite conglomerate. Technically produced electromagnetic oscillations in the MHz-range and magnetic impulses in the low frequency range persistently disturb the natural orientation and navigation mechanisms created by evolution" (Hecht, Kern, Richter, and Scheiner, 2008)

Also reported is that if the bees 'nitrous oxide' system is damaged or disturbed 'through the influence of technical magnetic fields…they can no longer orient themselves through scent and memory, and their all important learning process necessary for life no longer functions." (Hecht, Kern, Richter, and Scheiner, 2008) Since the nitrous oxide system also controls the immune system of the bees to a great extent, disturbance to this system will in turn affect the immune defense of the bees. (Hecht, Kern, Richter, and Scheiner, 2008)

III. PREVIOUS STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN IGNORED

The truth is… READ MORE

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