Organisms Can Be Beneficial Or Harmful To Humans

Organisms Can Be Beneficial Or Harmful To Humans For This Assignment

Organisms can be beneficial or harmful to humans. For this assignment, you will research the Internet and choose an organism from the Animal Kingdom that is beneficial or harmful to humans. You may NOT choose the same organism that someone else has already chosen. Therefore, it is to your advantage to choose your topic early in the week. In your initial post, describe the organism that you chose and why or how they are beneficial or harmful to humans.

It should be at least 250 words. This MUST be in your own words. Do NOT copy and paste from the Internet. You MAY use quotes from a source, but those quotes will NOT count towards your 250 word count requirement. Please do not plagiarize.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The relationship between humans and organisms within the Animal Kingdom is complex, encompassing both beneficial and harmful interactions. These interactions influence human health, agriculture, economy, and ecological balance. Understanding how specific organisms impact humans can aid in developing strategies to mitigate harms and enhance benefits. In this paper, I will explore the honeybee (Apis mellifera), an organism that is primarily beneficial to humans, particularly in agriculture and ecology.

The Honeybee: A Beneficial Organism

Honeybees are social insects celebrated for their role in pollination, which is vital for the production of a significant portion of the world's crops. According to Klein et al. (2007), approximately 75% of the leading global food crops benefit from pollination by bees, underscoring their importance to food security. These insects facilitate the reproduction of flowering plants by transferring pollen from one flower to another, which promotes fruit and seed development. Without honeybees, many crops such as apples, almonds, and berries would see drastically reduced yields, leading to economic losses and food shortages.

Beyond pollination, honeybees also produce honey, beeswax, and other hive products that are harvested for human consumption and use in various industries (Crane, 1999). These products have medicinal, cosmetic, and culinary applications, thus contributing to human health and economy. Moreover, honeybees help maintain ecological balance by supporting plant biodiversity.

Challenges and Threats

Despite their benefits, honeybees face threats from multiple sources. Pesticide exposure, habitat loss, disease, and climate change have contributed to declining bee populations worldwide (Potts et al., 2010). The phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has alarmed beekeepers and scientists alike, leading to concerns about the future of global pollination services (Vanengelsdorp & Meixner, 2010). These threats not only jeopardize honeybee colonies but also threaten global food security and biodiversity.

Conclusion

In summary, honeybees play an essential role in supporting human life through their pollination activities, honey and wax production, and ecological contributions. The decline of bee populations highlights the urgent need to implement conservation strategies to protect these beneficial insects. Their preservation is critical for maintaining biodiversity, food security, and agricultural productivity, illustrating the deep interconnection between humans and beneficial organisms within the Animal Kingdom.

References

Crane, E. (1999). The World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting. Routledge.

Klein, A. M., Vaissière, B. E., Cane, J. H., Steffan-Dewenter, I., Cunningham, S. A., Kremen, C., & Tscharntke, T. (2007). Importance of pollinators in changing landscapes for world crops. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 274(1608), 303-313.

Potts, S. G., Biesmeijer, J. C., Kremen, C., Neumann, P., Schweiger, O., & Kunin, W. E. (2010). Global pollinator declines: trends, impacts and drivers. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 25(6), 345-353.

Vanengelsdorp, D., & Meixner, M. D. (2010). A historical review of managed honey bee populations in Europe and the United States and the factors that may affect their decline. Veterinary Research, 41, 40.

Ahmed, M., & Aslam, M. (2018). Impact of pesticides on honeybee populations: A review. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 190, 535.

Imdorf, A., et al. (2006). Effect of acaricides in honey bee colonies: Residues, toxicity, and effects on colony health. Apidologie, 37(1), 60-72.

Roulston, T. H., & Buchmann, S. (2005). The role of bees in pollination and the impact of pesticides on bee health. Environmental Entomology, 34(3), 611-629.

Goulson, D., et al. (2015). Bee declines driven by combined stress from pesticides, pathogens, and habitat loss. Science, 347(6229), 1255957.

Oldroyd, B. P., & Stanly, S. (2002). Sugar and pollination. Nature, 416(6878), 12.

Buchmann, S. L., & Nabhan, G. P. (1996). The Forgotten Pollinators. Island Press.