LOCALadk Magazine

62 Summer 2017 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk The precious numbered days of summer in the Adirondacks have arrived, and with them our favorite signs of the season. Beautiful wildflower blooms dot our beloved landscape, buzz- ing bees work fervently to collect pollen, and our region's farmers can be seen on their tractors or behind their team of horses working the land. The vitality of our gardens and farms are highly dependent on bees and other pollinators. Un- fortunately, pollinator populations have noticeably declined in recent years, creating a phenomenon known as the global pollinator crisis. According to Dr. Christina Grozinger, Director of the Center for Pollinator Research at Penn State, 90 percent of all flower- ing plants use pollinators. Next time you look at your colorful garden of Echinacea and bee balm, or view roadsides dotted with asters, milkweed, and goldenrod, remember that nine out of every 10 blossoms became established through the actions of a bee, butterfly, or other pollinator. In addition to their ecological value, pollinators are also critically important to agricultural production. Dr. Grozinger shared that 75 percent of all major food crops rely on pollinators. In the Adirondack region, some notable pollinator-dependent crops include apples, potatoes, grapes, tomatoes, and blueberries. What are the signs that a global pollinator crisis is upon us? Dr. Grozinger again provided some insight. Researchers world- wide have seen declines in both managed and wild pollinator populations, with managed pollinators being the honeybee and bumblebee colonies that beekeepers introduce to service at a particular site. Grozinger noted that, globally, 50 percent of bumblebee species have declined, and monarch butterfly populations that overwinter in Mexico have decreased by more than 80 percent. Beekeepers have reported similar find- ings for their managed populations. Grozinger also noted that the factors contributing to declines in pollinator population are landscape and habitat losses, cli- mate change impacts, and the influence of pesticides. Urban sprawl and conversion of pollinator habitat for human use The Global Pollinator Crisis & the new Adirondack Pollinator Project By Kerry Crowningshield, Outreach Coordinator - Lake Placid Land Conservancy Jen Kretser, Director of Programs - The Wild Center Brittany Christenson, Director - AdkAction.org

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