Human Footprint: How Humans Have Changed Bees’ Natural Ecosystems
摘要
Ever since wild bees’ role as pollinators received more attention, wild bee conservation has become an increasing concern. The importance of wild bees as pollinators has taken a back seat to honey bees for decades thanks to their well known efficiency. This chapter will discuss the impact that humans have on wild bees, starting with a summary on what are considered their primary needs, namely foraging and nest building. We will then discuss the primary human-induced disturbances contributing to habitat loss, including habitat fragmentation, agriculture, urbanization, electromagnetic effects, wildfires, and coexistence with managed bees. Next, some methods adopted to mitigate the effect of human actions on the ecology of wild bees will be presented, such as flower strips, hedgerows, and forests proximity.