Loss of wild flowers across Britain matches pollinator decline
The first ever Britain-wide assessment of the value of wild flowers as food for pollinators shows that decreasing floral resources mirror the decline of pollinating insects, providing new evidence to support the link between plant and pollinator decline.
In recent years, there have been considerable concerns over threats to wild bees and other insect pollinators which are vital to the success of important food crops and wild flowers.
Amongst the many pressures facing pollinators, a key factor is likely to be decreasing floral resources in Britain.
The study, published in Nature combines vegetation survey data recorded over the last 80 years with modern day measurements of nectar to provide the most comprehensive assessment ever published.
This week, we celebrate the humble insect pollinators who work hard to keep us fed.
Some of nature’s tastiest treats such as apples, strawberries and raspberries are all reliant on insects including bees. Globally, the free service provided by pollinators is said to be worth around $153 billion per year.
The steady decline of these important insects over the years raises concern about our ability to feed a growing population.
However, by researching the causes and consequences of threats to insect pollinators, we can help develop strategies to help them to thrive.
Sticking gears on everything is debated in the steampunk community. Some just love the gear in its own right, others say sticking gears on everything and calling it “steampunk” misses the nuance and aesthetic of the genre. I’m in the middle - I use gears but not “orphan” gears and they must look like they actually have a purpose in the design. They can imply movement.
I’m telling you this because I wanted to make this piece with no gears. I wanted it to look like a miniature steam engine powering this little guy. Starting with a brass shelf support pin I drilled numerous holes to attach the “engine”, exhaust, wings, head and legs. Everything is screwed in.
He needed a purpose - in situ - so I made him a stand, bracket with a copper and brass flower to “fly” to. It’s curled around the main support. He can be taken off the bracket but I really like seeing him “working”. He is a combination of parts from jewellery supplies, watch parts, electrical supplies and miscellaneous hardware.
Thanks for looking! I really appreciate all the support I get from my Tumblr community.
DESCRIPTION:A coarse perennial, 3-6 ft. tall with numerous large, yellow composite flowers. Each flower head has 20-30 yellow rays and darker yellow disks. Stout leaves are joined at stem to form a small cup that holds water and attracts birds.(Wildflower Center) This species has square stems and leaves that are mostly opposite, egg-shaped, toothed, with cuplike bases that hold water (Kindscher 1987). The flower heads are rich, golden yellow, 2.5 centimeters in diameter, and closely grouped at the tips of the stems (Hunter 1984). The small, tubular disk flowers are in the middle of the flower and is sterile and does not produce fruits (Ladd, 1995).
PORTION OF THE PLANT USED: Leaves and roots.
TRADITIONAL USES: Chippewa Native Americans used the simple or compound decoction of root for “stoppage of periods,” for back and chest pain and for lung hemorrhage. A poultice of moistened, dried root was applied to wounds to stop bleeding.
Iroquois used the decoction of roots as an emetic and as face wash for paralysis. Burned root soot was placed on child’s cheek to prevent them from seeing ghosts. Meskwaki used the root to “alleviate the vomiting of pregnancy.” Infusion of root taken by women to prevent premature birth. Root used to reduce profuse menstruation and as an anti-emetic during pregnancy.
Ojibwa infusion of root taken for lumbago and other rheumatic back pains, stomach trouble and hemorrhage.
Cup plant’s young leaves were cooked in the spring as a green (Kindscher 1987). It was also used as a chewing gum to help prevent vomiting (Runkel & Roosa 1989). The Winnebagos tribe believed that this species has supernatural powers. They would drink a concoction derived from the rhizome to purify them before going on a buffalo hunt. It is used in the treatment of liver and spleen disorders and has also been used to treat morning sickness (Moerman 1998).
POLLINATOR:Rosin Weed attracts a variety of pollinators but it is especially relished by some of our smaller solitary bees. The plant gets its common name from the sticky rosin it produces, which was used as a chewing gum by the Native Americans. Rosin weed is quick to mature once germinated, reaching flowering size surprisingly fast.
This infographic aims at raising awareness among stakeholders about the benefits of pollinators and beneficial practices that help to enhance pollination services across agricultural sectors.
Primary Threats to Bees + 10 ways to save them [Visuals]
Primary Threats to Bees + 10 ways to save them [Visuals]
#worldbeeday #savethebess #biodiversity #wildlife
Scientific studies have linked the use of pesticides containing the chemical thiamethoxam to the falling numbers of honeybees, wild bees and other animals which pollinate plants.
Insects play a vital role in the food chain – with around a third of the food we eat relying on pollination mainly by bees.
When you’re thinking about being kind to the environment, you’re probably drumming up images of the great outdoors in places like natural parks and neighborhood trails. But what about the great outdoors in your backyard?
While you may not see the negative impacts of littering or pollution outside your window, that doesn’t mean your lawn doesn’t impact the world. In fact, there are plenty of steps you can take to reduce your lawn’s negative impact on the environment. Through careful and considerate landscaping, you can actually reduce the resources your lawn consumes every year and even save a little money while you’re at it.
Originally founded in 1988, National Wildflower Week (May 7–13) aims to celebrate the beauty and role of the hundreds of native wildflowers across the United States. In addition to beautifying their surroundings, wildflowers help conserve water, protect soil from erosion, and serve as valuable habitat areas for migratory butterflies and birds.
While native plants and wildflowers generally require fewer resources to grow than cultivated plants, they can become at risk from habitat loss and invasive species that compete with them.
Many things have been learned and many things have been forgotten over these past 10 years.
Remember that flowers still bloom, worms still have to eat & it’s gotten hotter n fresh poo.
We need solutions now more than ever.
Keep counting those simple blessings & remember.
Seed saving.
Yard eating.
Soil makin.
#SimpleFoodSmallFarmz is now on Instagram, Twitter & Tumblr. Book a tour or experience. There are a number of fantastic Air BnB Experiences are taking place with Maurice Small in Atlanta.
When I found it it was crawling across my wood chip pile on a soon to be frosty night in early November. It was/is looking for a place to hibernate for the winter.
Whenever I find these I say positive vibes to them because it will rest for a few months just like bears, frogs, crickets and anoles.
Learn how the giant leopard moth is a beneath to the urban homestead by booking a tour or hands on learning experience.
I’ve received the seeds for the native plant workshop!one of them is #Purpleconeflower. Purple coneflower is a classic prairie flower that is easy to grow and drought tolerant. I have these in my front garden and leave their stems after to they’ve bloomed for the goldfinches. #plantnatives #wildflowers #botanicalart #pollinators #portrait #iowaart #newcontemporary #newcontemporaryart #ecoart #artoninstagram #acrylicpainting #sacredfeminine #floralillustration #floral https://www.instagram.com/p/B8Rnl6SA4Ng/?igshid=1r5jvk37zd2qu
Seed Bearer ~Not all pollinators are bees. The grace and glinting beauty of the great black wasp captivated me since I first saw one as a child. I loved to watch them, hoping for the moments when their wings shown iridescent blue. These large wasps are pollinators, feeding on nectar, and rarely stinging. With our current culture’s focus on bees it’s good to remember that all creatures have an intrinsic value beyond what is normally considered beneficial to us. Seed Bearer reminds us that our wilderness, our wildness, and our lives are connected. Anyone can bear a seed, and anyone can be a seed. Part of my series Prairie Seed Dreaming. 16"x20" on wood panel. . . #prairieart #prairie #pollinators #newcontemporaryart #gardenart #faerieart #faerie #faeriesofinstagram #wasp #naturelovers #desmoinesart #iowaart #iowaartist https://www.instagram.com/p/B5n_ip2Agxs/?igshid=1uan48admuxox
One of the many reasons I choose native plants for my garden is so that the butterflies and all wildlife will have a place to rest as they pass through. When my son sees the butterflies and bees he is delighted and enchanted in a way that we often forget to be. I am reminded to look closer and treasure the moments when butterflies fly by. Details: Yellow Sulphur 8"x10" birthday candles from years gone by, Acrylic, paper, cardboard and other discarded trash on canvas. From Of Roots and Wildness. Now showing at the Waukee public library gallery. Available- message for details. $120 #choosenativeplants #butterfly #butterflies #mixedmedia #pollinators #ecoart #birthdaycandles #enchant #magic #childhood #gardenart https://www.instagram.com/p/B9kN7w9DBPr/?igshid=1tmidecx0ytyz
I’m working on cold stratifying my #milkweed. I will have seeds for the workshop in March and started plants for the workshop in May! Milkweed is the host plant for monarch caterpillars and provides food for many pollinators. I have butterfly, common, and rose milkweed.
Violas keep a secret hidden below their foliage. Sometimes they even bury it shallowly in the soil near their roots. I suppose it’s not a secret really, just something out of sight. There isn’t a reason to show it off, after all. Showy flowers are showy for the sole purpose of attracting pollinators. If pollinators are unnecessary, there is no reason for showy flowers, or to even show your…
A few years back I did a daily mixed media post about bones called bone_a_day. I think I did it for about 3 ½ years. Starting January, I am going to do a daily post about pollinators, mostly bees, but others as well. My pollinator garden is starting its fifth year. I’m including 12 posts in order to be caught up.
It may come as a surprise to some that small mammals such as rodents, shrews, and even marsupials have been coopted by plants for pollination services. Far from being occasional evolutionary oddities, many plants have coopted small furry critters for their reproductive needs. Some of the best illustrations of this phenomenon occur in the Protea family (Proteaceae).
The various members of Proteaceae are probably best known for their bizarre floral displays. Indeed, they are most often encountered outside of their native habitats as outlandish additions to the cut flower industry. Superficial interest in beauty aside, the floral structure of the various protea genera and species is complex to say the least. They are well adapted to ensure cross pollination regardless of what the inflorescence attracts. Most notable is the fact that pollen doesn’t stay on the anthers. Instead, it is deposited on the tip of a highly modified style, which is referred to as the pollen presenter. Usually these structures remain closed until some visiting animal triggers their release.
Although birds and insects have taken up a majority of the pollination needs of this family, small mammals have entered into the equation on multiple occasions. Pollination by rodents, shrews, and marsupials is collectively referred to as therophilly and it appears to be quite a successful strategy at that. Therophilous pollination has arisen in more than one genera within Proteaceae.
A therophilous pollination syndrome appears to come complete with a host of unique morphological characters aimed at keeping valuable pollen and nectar away from birds and insects. The inflorescences of therophilous species like Protea nana,P. cordata, and Leucospermum arenarium are usually tucked deep inside the branches of these bushes, often at or near ground level. They are also quite robust and sturdy in nature, which is thought to be an adaptation to avoid damage incurred by the teeth of hungry mammals. The inflorescences of therophilous proteas also tend to have brightly colored or even shiny flowers surrounded by inconspicuous brown involucral bracts.
Contrasted against bird pollinated proteas, these inflorescences can seem rather drab but that is because small mammals like rodents and shrews are drawn in by another sense - smell. Therophilous proteas tend to produce inflorescences with strong musty or yeasty odors. They also produce copious amounts of sugar-rich, syrupy nectar. Small mammals, after all, need to take in a lot of calories throughout their waking hours and it appears that proteas use that to their advantage.
As a rodent or shrew slinks in to take a drink, its head gets completely covered in pollen. In fact, they become so dusted with pollen that, before small, easy to hide trail cameras became affordable, pollen loads in the feces of rodents were the main clue that these plants were attracting something other than birds or insects. What’s more, the flowering period of many of these therophilous proteas occurs in the spring, right around the time when many small mammals go into breeding mode. Its during this time that small mammals need all of the energy they can get.
As odd as it may seem, rodent pollination appears to be a successful strategy for a considerable amount of protea species. The proteas aren’t alone either. Other plants appear to have evolved therophilous pollination as well. Nature, after all, works with what it has available and small mammals like rodents make up a considerable portion of regional faunas. With that in mind, it is no wonder that more plants have not converged on a similar strategy. Likely many have, we just need to take the time to sit down and observe.
![The Pollination Services of Forests [Infographic]→ http://ecogreenlove.com/?p=14390This infographic](https://64.media.tumblr.com/3e0790731597581bf75f69400a4e0867/87bea29ab8fb6346-7a/s1280x1920/982324061a678abdbd2e58c35dbf054a8b52edcf.png "The Pollination Services of Forests [Infographic]→ http://ecogreenlove.com/?p=14390This infographic")
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![Honeybee [ID: A monochromatic drawing of a fuzzy honeybee, done in oranges and pinks.]](https://64.media.tumblr.com/00ddd3249cb286b4d37e6097d6e578a2/8d9581cfb79682b3-3a/s1280x1920/3b8d1c92b6a87c2a806c7e290519487fb2a83f93.jpg "Honeybee [ID: A monochromatic drawing of a fuzzy honeybee, done in oranges and pinks.]")
