In Module 5, lecture 2, we saw how we can apply a framework and cost-benefit analysis within ecology and economics. Recall our framework:
Identify key issues within ecology and economics.
Identify possible stakeholders (including non human stakeholders).
Do a cost benefit analysis of the short and long term impacts of taking action (or inaction).
Choose the course that is best supported by the preceding analysis.
And that cost-benefit analysis included:
Identify the proposed action and involved stakeholders
List out all the costs and benefits
Compare the two and decide if the benefits outweigh the costs
For this assignment, consider what you read in Perusall activity by Grossman (2013) and Paxton (2020). In the reading from Elizabeth Grossman we saw how honeybees have an enormous impact on agriculture and how they are being severely affected by a variety of problems, including pesticides but also parasites and pathogens. This loss of honeybees is called “colony collapse disorder”. In the Paxton article, we saw how scientists are using genome editing technologies to try to make honeybees more resilient to parasites and pathogens.
Instructions
In at least 250 words (total):
(1) Identify at least TWO stakeholders for the problem of honeybee colony collapse disorder.
(a) Explain why you think that these are stakeholders for this problem.
(2) In the case of honeybee microbial genome engineering explained by Paxton, the proposed action is to use genome editing to engineer honeybee microbiomes to make them more resilient to parasites and pathogens. With this in mind, do the following:
(a) Identify ONE cost for this proposed action, and explain why you believe that this is a cost.
(b) Identify ONE benefit for this proposed action, and explain why you believe that this is a benefit.
(c) State whether you think that we should undertake the proposed action, and explain why.
