A Study on Impact of Environmental Degradation and Climate Change on Honeybees and Bee Products in Western Himalayan Region

Abstract

Insects are the wonderful creatures on this planet. They play crucial role in ecology and newlinebiodiversity. However, population of insect pollinators is decreasing all over the world due to newlinecolony collapse disorders. Among insects, honeybees contribute significantly in production of newlinevaluable products as well as pollination of various flowering plants such as fruits, vegetables, newlineand other cash crops. They are also capable to sense and feel warning of various alteratio ns in newlineenvironment and may be deployed to examine human activities. It has been reported that newlinehoneybees are affected by various factors such as habitat loss, forest cutting, fires, lack of bee newlineflora, parasites, extinction forces, seasonal variation etc. Therefore, the conservation of bees is newlinevery important to plant biodiversity and for mankind. newlineDuring current study, efforts were made to analyze the effect of environment on honeybees. It newlinewas found that bee population is getting negatively impacted by the various environmental newlinefactors which are the effects of anthropogenic activities. Bee population, their behavior, newlineforaging, and habits are getting affected in the study aera and overall population especially that newlineof Apis dorsata and Apis cerana is getting affected. The efforts were also made to analyze the newlineeffect of pollution on bee products in the study area, however, it was found that presently there newlineis no significant effect of environmental changes on bee products like honey, wax, propolis etc. newlineThe study concludes that honeybees (the beautiful and efficient pollinators) should be taken newlinecare of and protected so that they can contribute in providing valuable products and doing newlinepollination for longer period of time. Himalaya is the habitat for variety of animals including newlineinsects. Once the population of bee pollinators reported to decrease in this area, then it may be newlinealarming for compete mankind.