Where's the Buzz?

Bees may be the summer picnicker's bane, but they're a crucial part of many ecosystems--and their role in pollinating crops makes them important to the economy as well. That's why scientists are alarmed by a new study in the journal Science. Over the past 26 years, say European researchers, the diversity of species in British and Dutch wild bees--and the wildflowers they favor--has plummeted. That's not to say there are fewer bees (some species are thriving) but there are fewer varieties, and that is not good news. An ecosystem with fewer species is like a baseball team with only a couple...

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