1 out of 3 products are at risk of extinction
Bee populations are declining. More than half of the bat species in the United States are in serious decline or listed as threatened. All this also means that 1 out of 3 products are at risk of extinction.
Internationally renowned scientists recently announced that the monarch butterfly is dangerously close to extinction. What these three creatures have in common is that they are all pollinators.
Without them, fruits, vegetables and other plants wouldn’t be fertilized and this is a major problem for our food.
“One out of every three types of food we eat is directly connected to a pollinator.” Ron Magill, director of communications and wildlife specialist at Zoo Miami, told CNN.
About 30% of the food that ends up on our tables gets there because of species like butterflies, bees and bats. Losing these critical populations could also mean losing some of our favorite foods.
Apples, melons, cranberries, pumpkins, broccoli and almonds are among the foods most susceptible to pollinator extinction, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
Domino effect
Bees, in particular, are responsible for pollinating about 90 commercially produced crops. Even tequila is at risk. “It’s all so intricately connected. Whether you’re eating the food that’s directly pollinated. Or you’re eating something that depends on that pollinator,” explains Magill, speaking of “a domino effect.”
In other words, if you eat fried chicken or pork chops, those chickens and pigs are eating fruits, vegetables, and other plants that depend on pollinators. And the climate crisis has affected them.
While severe and prolonged drought is the most obvious aggravating factor. There is also growing concern about the impact of extreme heat — particularly on butterflies.
“Since butterflies are some of the most sensitive insects to temperature changes, they are like the ‘canary in the coal mine’ when it comes to climate change,” he says.
Climate change
The warmer temperature causes plants to bloom earlier. Which is out of sync with when butterflies lay their eggs and metamorphose.
This means that the flowers they depend on for food will have already bloomed, leaving little for the butterflies to feed on. Which in turn will greatly affect their ability to reproduce and survive.
A vicious cycle begins, in which the butterflies cannot get the food they need to reproduce. And the plants cannot be fertilized, causing both to suffer greatly.
Source: IN.GR
The plan of action against the climate crisis
Enjoying our articles? Show us some love! Follow LoveLife on FaceBook.
