Update for comparing two articles

NewYorkTimes article "Virus Is Seen as Suspect in Death of Honeybees"

USCongress excerpt "Congress report"

Similarities:

• They both talk about May Berenbaum
• National Academies
• an unknown virus
• CCD
• the future of our food supply
• bees being responsible for 90% of crop fertilization
• DNA research

Differences:

• The second article is from a very reliable source, the first not so much
• The second article talks about possible solutions
• The second article mentions different organizations and government departments
• The first article centers around a virus being the cause of the bee deaths
• The first article making the virus connection to a similar virus in Israeli and Australia
• The second article centers around the disease CCD as the cause of death

Article 4: "The Benefit of Bees"

New Agriculturist on-line “The Benefit of Bees”
Author: Unknown

Main Purpose: The honeybee populations are quickly diminishing and severe consequences could result.

Description: This “article” discusses the different theories that could be behind the massive bee deaths.

This article has three sections:

Africanization- This part discusses how African bees could have affected other bees.

GM crops- This part discusses the side effects of genetically modified plants on bees.

Insecticides and pesticides- This part discusses the side effects of insecticides and/or pesticides on bees.

Audience: General Audiences (possibly farmers and/or beekeepers)

"The Benefit of Bees." New Agriculturist. Wren Media. 2 Nov 2007 .

Article 3: "Virus Is Seen as Suspect in Death of Honeybees"

The New York Times article “Virus Is Seen as Suspect in Death of Honeybees”
Author: Andrew C. Revkin
Date: September 7, 2007

Main Purpose: Scientists think they have found out what is a very like source of all the bee deaths. They think it is a virus possible related to another known illness called Israeli acute paralysis virus and another virus over in Australia. However, scientists point out that if a virus is the true source there is still likely other circumstances involved to produce such large “die-offs.”

This article was written in September, now there is other evidence that a virus isn’t the most likely source, but it is still a high suspect.

Description: This article discusses how a possible virus, a likely relative of another virus in Israel and Australia, could prove to be the answer to all the missing bees. With the help of the latest DNA technology scientists are well on their way to seeing exactly what is going on inside the bees. More and more tests are being run and data and analysis are continuing to be studied and stored in hopes of saving the bee population.

This article has about 3 parts:

The discovery of a virus- This part examines a possible virus that may be killing the bees and related to other bee death instances around the world.

Other sources besides the virus: This part discusses that maybe bee stress, radiation, or poor nutrition could also have had a hand in their mysterious disappearances.

How scientists are further studying the problem- This last portion points out new DNA technology and further research that might help locate any genetic problems.

Possible audiences: general public

Credentials: Author quotes Jeffery S. Pettis an entomologist with the Department of Agriculture and co-director of a national group working on the CCD problem, May Berenbaum the head of the department of entomology at the University of Illinois, W. Ian Lipkin an author of the new study and director of the Center for Infection and Immunology at Columbia University.

Revkin, Andrew. "Virus Is Seen as Suspect in Death of Honeybees." The New York Times. 7 Sept 2007. The New York Times Company. 2 Nov 2007

Article 2: "Losing Their Buzz"

New York Times article “Losing Their Buzz”
Author: May Berenbaum
March 2, 2007

Main Purpose: Honeybees are mysteriously disappearing leaving no clues or bodies behind. What is behind their untimely deaths is uncertain, but the impact of their disappearance is clear. No bees means food production will stall, businesses will fail, and people will be left to fend for themselves.

Description: Bees have huge jobs, but most people never recognized it. Now that they are fighting a losing battle we as consumers and scientists are left uncertain of what may come. Of course researchers are doing their best, focusing on their genes and currently known aliments. We took advantage of them, our small buzzing creatures, now things might never be the same. The only real hope is some sort of scientific breakthrough or that the bees with fight this one out.

This article had about 3 sections:

Why are bees important- It states for example that bees pollinate 90% of crops.

What is happening to them- It suggests CCD (colony collapse disorder), genetic disorder, stress, and a few others.

How to slow down the death rate- She suggests constant monitoring and tracking of honey bees.

Possible Audience: Since May Berenbaum is a respected entomologist this article could be targeted towards beekeepers, general interested public, or fellow entomologists. (Or anyone else interested in biology)

Credentials: May R. Berenbaum is the head of the department of entomology at the University of Illinois, The National Research Council, Department of Agriculture

Berenbaum, May. "Losing Their Buzz." The New York Times. 2 March 2007. The New York Times Company. 2 Nov 2007

Article 1: Excerpt of a Congressional Meeting

For Congress
110th Congress (First Session)
Chamber: House
Subject: Problems in Domestic Bee Colonies
Witness: May R. Berenbaum

Main Purpose: The main purpose is to inform the government and the nation of the serious circumstances surrounding the dying bee colonies.

Description: The excerpt states the importance of bees to the environment, the nation’s food supply, and how they contribute to consumers with their honey. It explains how this will hurt farmers and other major areas of agriculture. They discuss some possible short term and long term recommendations for helping the bees. The article emphases the part people play in this ordeal and how they, ordinary people who know little about bees, can help them.

There are 5 sections:

Background to Colony Collapse Disorder-Committee on the Status of Pollinators in North America- This part talks about the exactly Colony Collapse Disorder is and how it is affecting the bees. It talks about bees are doing when they fly around going from flower to flower. It also covers other possible sources of possible triggers of the bee fatalities.

Potential impacts of pollinator decline on US agriculture- This part explains what bees pollinate, for example fruit and vegetables, how beekeepers are handling this situation, and possible suggestions for getting more bees into the US.

Short-term and long-term recommendations for honey bees- This portion talks about getting more money for bee research to better understand some of the diseases and parasites that plaque them and increasing the dwindling population.

Wild Pollinators- putting pollen in more than one basket- This short section focuses on other pollinators besides bees and their population statues.

Pollination reserves and the American quality of life- This last part discuses the nation’s food supply and what its future may hold.

Possible Audience: This is mostly for a general audience; however, anyone in the beekeeping industry or even in the honey business would find this a good update on the problem.

Credentials: Professor and Head, Department of Entomology, University of Illinois (May R. Berenbaum), Urbana-Champaign and Chair, Committee on the Status of Pollinators in North America, Board on Life Sciences and Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Division on Earth and Life Studies, National Research Council, and The National Academies

Comparison of two articles related to bee deaths

My first article called Are GM Crops Killing Bees? by Gunther Latsch agrees with the point that the article called Keeping Bees Among Us by Verlyn Klinkenborg (newyorktimes) makes and that is that bees are in trouble. They both point out that something is seriously wrong and if something isn't done our food sources could quickly diminish. However my first article suggests that the bee population may be suffering from being in contact with genetically modified plants while my second article believes bees are dying, not of outside forces, but internal ones, the condition CCD or colony collapse disorder.
The first articles mentions several people who sit on various organizations and their views and opinions on the matter. The second article simply states the author's own experiences from her past. Clearly both articles have identified the problem, but view differently on the source of the problem.

Links to Honeybee related websites

I found that these sites have good information with pictures and links to other great sites not listed below. I would highly recommand them.

Backyard Beekeeper's Association:

Washington State Beekeeping Association:

American Association for the Advancement of Science:

American Beekeeping Association:

International Bee Research Association: