A pollination model estimates that a healthy bee colony supports 35,000 flowers with sufficient visits. If a colony size decreases by 20%, what is the new maximum number of flowers that can be adequately supported?

Sat, 02 May 2026 22:14:42 +0000

Understanding Pollination: How a 20% Decline in Bee Colony Size Affects Flower Support Bees play a vital role in sustaining ecosystems and supporting global food production through pollination. A key insight from recent pollination models shows that a healthy, full-sized bee colony can effectively visit and support approximately 35,000 flowers effectively. But what happens when bee populations shrink? This article explores how reducing a bee colony by 20% impacts its pollination capacity and calculates the new maximum number of flowers that can be adequately supported. ### The Role of Bee Colonies in Pollination Bees are essential pollinators for countless flowering plants, including many crops vital to human agriculture. A single thriving bee colony can make repeated visits to flowers, transferring pollen that enables plants to reproduce. This process supports biodiversity and maintains food systems.