It is not hyperbolic to postulate that the decline of pollinator species, and the implications for food production (to say nothing of the maintenance of biodiversity), is the most pressing issue of our times, linked as it is to the industrialization of agriculture and the ongoing destruction of forests throughout the world, and pollution of land, air and water.
The author, Timothy Walker, puts it succinctly in the Introduction, viz: "Pollination is an essential component of the world's ecosystems. The process is required for the successful reproduction of nine out of every ten plants on Earth, and without it the world would revert to the state it was in 350 million years ago. This world would certainly not contain humans".
The renowned biologist, Edward O. Wilson echoed these thoughts when he said, "If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos".
Pollination is a book for its time. It is extremely well written, filled with coloured illustrations and examines every facet of pollination, surely one of the great wonders of the natural world. I found the text very pleasing; important concepts and scientific detail are presented in an easy-to-read, easy-to-understand fashion, and while undergraduate students would benefit greatly from this book, no layperson should hesitate to delve into it. When you get to the end you will have acquired a full and complete understanding of the process, the actors involved, and what is required from humans to ensure that a calamitous collapse is headed off.
I think it is fair to say that most people, when confronted with the word "pollinator" immediately direct their attention to insects, and probably to bees more than any other, for their catastrophic decline has been highlighted in the popular press for some time. While insect pollination is of the highest order of importance it should not be overlooked that birds, mammals, reptiles, wind and water are all forces to one extent or another in the successful pollination of many plants, both angiosperms and gymnosperms. A detailed examination of ALL forms of pollination is provided in the book.
As in most operational systems in nature, there are of necessity, rewards for all participants in the symbiotic interaction between species, and this mutualism is explained fully, with interesting observations on the varied and sometimes devious methods employed by plants to attract their pollinator partners.
The dire decline of pollinators is finally being acknowledged by humans and there are some attempts at remediation, but generally these are weaker than they need to be, and perceived economic interest, or other issues of natural sovereignty trump environmental action. And we (a generalized "we") continue to display an amazing proclivity to elect politicians who deny climate science and wear blinders when environmental integrity is under threat. In the very arena where we can affect the outcome the most, we consistently fail.
The aims of the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity have been adopted by almost every nation in the world, with the USA being significantly absent. It is a reason for serious dismay that the most scientifically advanced nation in the world eschews international cooperation in this manner.
The future of pollination is in our hands. In the challenging and prophetic words of Robert May of Oxford, future generations will find it "blankly incomprehensible if we do not act now, when we have the knowledge and the resources to make a difference."
Urge your local library to put a copy of this book on the shelf. It is critical that every citizen, in every corner of the globe, presses governments to take action on this crisis that threatens the continuation of life on Earth as we know it. It doesn't get any more important than that.
Pollination: The Enduring Relationship between Plant and Pollinator
Timothy Walker
US$29.95 - £25.00 - ISBN: 9780691203751 - 224 pages - 350 colour illustrations - 7.5 in. x 9.75 in.
Publication date: 06 October 2020
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Hi David, good morning! This sounds like a most interesting and very important book. We are indeed living in a time where insects and other pollinators are decreasing. I remember when Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring' was published in 1962 and criticized by many as being unrealistic. She was so right. I hope lots of people will read the book to get a better understanding of what we stand to lose if we don't handle now. Hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteAnd she, and her book, were maliciously and scurrilously attacked by the very industries that were producing the chemicals from which they reaped huge profits. One sees the same kind if vitriol directed at Greta Thunberg today.
DeleteI think everyone should read a book like this.Very imortant!Great post David!
ReplyDeleteHi David,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a very intresting book. We are in a critical time, and we need so desperately the pollinators. In my little garden I do all I can to feed them with my flowers, but I can't feed all the insects in the whole world.
I hope people takes this problem very seriously.
Have a great weekend! Best wishes from your friend Marit
There is so much to learn and understand. Then, to correct the wrongs humanity has made.
ReplyDeleteThe second part of your comment seems to be what we are unwilling to do.
DeleteHello David, indeed this sounds like a very interesting book and I hope that the people who should read it, and have the power to make a change will be convinced to take action. But the big industry that makes the poison, that farmers use all over the world, are still allowed to produce their develish poisons I fear for it all. Short term thinking, making money fast is what kills us all in the end.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Roos
Sounds like an interesting and important book. I'll be checking our library to see if they are ordering a copy. Thanks for the wonderful review.
ReplyDeleteThank you, David, for this informative post. Although we no longer have a yard or garden to tend, I have noticed far less insects along the paths we often walk and even in a local communal flower garden where there were no butterflies seen this year, despite an abundance of plants including milkweed.
ReplyDeleteInteresting review on an interesting subject!
ReplyDeleteWe're usually worried about the disappearance of Man; the above mentioned book opens up our eyes and makes us aware of the impact of insects' disappearance on Life.
This really sounds interesting, insects are such an important part of our lives, if only everyone realised the fact! Keep safe Diane
ReplyDeleteI will seek this one out. I have read and admired Edward O Wilson. Not to be too flippant, because I do know this problem with pollination, but the other day I interrupted a bee hive and got badly stung. So I know I have SOME pollinators in my yard, at least.
ReplyDeleteAmigo David, no me cabe la menor duda debe ser una gran obra que todos deberíamos leer con suma atención. Indagaré por si esta traducida.
ReplyDeleteLlevo observando ya algunos años que los naranjos que tengo en el jardín hace unos años me daban gran cantidad de cosecha, últimamente a pesar de estar llenos de flores en primavera que casi no dejan apreciar sus hojas, cuaja muy poca fruta, no poca, más bien poquísima, y he observado este año la escasez de abejas cuando antes era un murmullo gratificante. No cabe duda que algo grave está sucediendo.
Os deseo buen fin de semana.
Recibir un fuerte abrazo de vuestro amigo y compadre Juan.
Thank you, David, for this enlightening review - I think I may have to buy this book. Perhaps this should become part of a standard school curriculum - of far more use than learning Shakespeare off by wrote!
ReplyDeleteI think if the cover looks so good and the content is just as good.
ReplyDeleteExcellent review of a book on, as you say, one of the pressing issues of our time. It is vitally important that people be made aware of just how dependent we are upon the pollinators of the world. Maybe then we'll stop killing them.
ReplyDeleteWe seem to have little will to tackle serious problems we know exist, problems that threaten our very survival even. Our record of inaction on climate change, deforestation,overfishing, oceanic pollution...and on, is both shocking and defies basic logic.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the review, it is an important book. Take care, enjoy your day!
Please get a copy and read it, Eileen.
Delete‘Bees’ was my first thought too but there are obviously more pollinators. A very interesting book David, thank you for bringing it to our attention.
ReplyDeleteExcellent review, David!
ReplyDeleteAaaargh. How I wish that our species was not responsible for so many of the pressing issues of our time. And I wish even more fervently that we were prepared to take the necessary action to rectify them.
ReplyDeleteHuge thanks for this review. I will try and track it down, despite knowing that reading it will incite yet more grief, fear and rage.
I am really starting to wonder whether we have any ethics - or common sense - left.
DeleteHola David, muchas gracias por darnos a conocer este libro tan interesante. El mundo de los polinizadores es muy interesante y a mi en particular me encanta. En mi aldea que es muy pequeña y no existe más agricultura que mi pequeña huerta es fácil ver estos maravillosos insectos, también nuestro vecino Daniel y nosotros tenemos unas cuantas abejas a las que cuidamos con cariño, pero en algunos lugares ya casi no quedan. Un enorme abrazo.
ReplyDeleteHola, que tal! oh, the mystery and magic of pollination ... if the bees go extinct, everything ends
ReplyDeleteif we become extinct, the world will stop being polluted and destroyed. We must understand it once and for all, pollinators are essential in our environment. Bees, bumblebees, butterflies, hummingbirds, even some bats, all have their mission, their reason for being in our beautiful world. There are fewer and fewer green spaces that provide shelter and food for animals, i get so angry when see someone attack a hive... a beautiful hummingbird arrives at my house, always looking for the rose bush 🌹🌹🌹🌹😍🌷🌺
Good weekend, and thanks for the suggestion of this book dear David!
Until human nature changes, I fear that our world is going to continue its destructive slide into oblivion.
ReplyDeleteCan't do without pollination.
ReplyDeleteSounds a most interesting and necessary book to read.
Take care.
C'est vrai que quand on parle de pollinisation on pense d'abord aux insectes alors qu'il y'a plein d'autres choses à prendre en compte.
ReplyDeleteC'est un livre qui me plairait bien, il sera peut-être traduit en français un jour.
Bonne journée
Hello, David
ReplyDeleteWe can not survive without pollination, it is scary. What a great book. Thanks for the review. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, enjoy your day! Wishing you a happy weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
Serious times for everyone on the planet. There can be no one else to blame but ourselves.
ReplyDeleteHello. Very important book.
ReplyDelete"If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos".
I think that most of people on eart does not understand that yet. So, it is important write about this issue.
Hi DAvid what an interesting and enlightening post ,bees are so important we have been missing them around our fruit trees and veggie garden the last couple of years ,oh I hope they come back this year. Cheers Sheryl
ReplyDeleteHi David - fascinating ... and it's an area I need to learn more about. Another blogging friend - whom I read, rather than blog with - has just published a book 'Pollinators and Pollination: Nature and Society' that I may well buy - under his blog Jeff Ollerton.
ReplyDeleteBut I was researching something about St Kilda's - the archipelago off NW Scotland - and they don't have bees ... i.e. not a lot of biodiversity ... which went into my brain. St Kilda's will come up for my #WATWB post in October ... but excellent to see your review of Timothy Walker's book. Thank you - Hilary
It pleased me to read that he considers more than the insects when it comes to pollination. By any chance, have you come across a book by Neltje Blanchan titled Nature's Garden: An Aid to Knowledge of Our Wild Flowers and Their Insect Visitors? It was published in 1900, and also focuses on pollination: particularly, the ways that wild flowers use to attract the pollinators so necessary for their continuation.
ReplyDeleteNeltje Blanchan was her pen name; her married name was Doubleday -- yes, that Doubleday. If you scan the list of her titles, you'll no doubt find others of interest, such as Birds Every Child Should Know and Canadian Birds Worth Knowing!
Both the author and the title are new to me, Linda. I will be sure to keep my eye open at the booksellers I visit in the antique malls around here. Thanks for the information.
DeleteI grow a few scarlet runner bean plants every year, and earlier this year I noticed that there were not many insects, bees etc on the flowers, and therefore few beans growing. But now the bees have arrived and I am able to harvest some nice beans. I wonder where they were?
ReplyDeleteThe book is informative. Thank you for sharing your review with us. Pollination is an important topic in nature. We have several insect houses in the garden. I plant flowers that bees love.
ReplyDeleteHugs and greetings.
The topic is of the utmost importance. In Finland, many campaigns have been launched to help pollinators... and often it means insects. (Pelasta pörriäinen! Save the fuzzy pollinator!) I never thought of mammals or reptiles as pollinators. It would be very useful to read the book.
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend!
Just think of bats, Sara.
DeleteMany thanks for this review.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Zapylanie to temat dość nurtujący we współczesnych czasach. To ważne dla całej planety, dla naszego istnienia, żywienia, egzystowania. Dobrze, że książka powstała i wierzę, że przyczyni się do polepszenia obecnego stanu.
ReplyDeleteWe can only hope, Ludmila.
DeleteEl libro se ve muy interesante, pero creo que en España no estará. Me encanta ver los polinizadores en mi jardín y soy una ferviente defensora de ellos. Un abrazo.
ReplyDeleteWe need more champions like you, Teresa. Un abrazo.
ReplyDelete