Pollution, bees and foraging.
by Lewis, 27 July, 2016, 2 comments
Sadly, our air is polluted with many different chemicals from anthropogenic sources - particularly the burning of fuels. Many of these chemicals have been implicated as exacerbating a number of health conditions - notably heart disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), stroke and lung cancer. Common pollutants are particulates (from diesel), ozone and nitrogen oxides. These pollutants not only affect us but also many different plants and animals.
Recent research at Penn State University has revealed that ozone interacts with plant scents (volatile oils) and degrades them. As a result the scents are less effective in attracting pollinators (bees and bumblebees) to the flowers. Read more...
