Many animals influence and contirbute to ecosystem services. As pollinators, how do bess ultimately contribute to direct ecosystem services?
bees pollinate plant species that produce oxygen that humans need
bees pollinate plant species that produce food
bees pollinate plant species that numans admire in nature
bees pollinate plant species that contribute to the carbon cycle
Bees primarily contribute to direct ecosystem services by pollinating plant species that produce food. It is estimated that approximately 75% of global food crops rely on pollinators like bees for reproduction. This includes fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds that are essential to human diets. Without bees, the production of these food crops would significantly decline, leading to reduced food availability and increased food prices.
In addition to food production, bees also play a vital role in pollinating plant species that contribute to the carbon cycle. Through pollination, bees facilitate the reproduction of trees and other vegetation that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to mitigate climate change. These plants use the carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and convert it into oxygen, enabling them to release oxygen back into the environment.
While bees indirectly contribute to the production of oxygen through their role in pollination, their main contribution lies in the pollination of plant species that produce food and contribute to the carbon cycle. The other options mentioned (plant species that humans admire in nature and those that produce oxygen) are byproducts of their primary role as pollinators in the ecosystem.