Bumble bee conservation project

Rosie Wilson writes...

'We arrived in Greenland on a four week expedition. We were all so excited it took us a week or so to settle down to some real science work. My main focus was a bumble bee project. One day when I was out I stumbled across a bumble bee nest.  As there are no trees (above 15cm) in Greenland the nest was located in the ground. It was nestled in a hollow on the tundra. We decided this opportunity was too good to miss and thought of two projects to attempt. The first one we tried involved investigating whether bumble bees really use markers to find their way back to their nest. We set flags up against the nest and even people. This method seemed to confuse the bees as they continued to fly out but upon return flew past the nest. 

The other project was to time how long each bee was away from the nest. We also wanted to see whether it was always the same bees that did all the flying into and out of the nest. To implement this project we sat by the nest and when a bee flew out we let out a small percentage of ether. This made the bee momentarily sleepy. We then placed a marker upon it's head using a natural adhesive. Each marker was a unique symbol. The bee came round within two minutes and flew off. We then timed how long that particular bee was away from the nest for.

Timing proved quite difficult as the bees were often away for long periods of time. Also since bees use markers to locate their nest, a human sat next to the nest would often confuse the bee, making them fly on!

The most exciting part of the project really was studying the nest. A bumble nest in the tundra was just such an unbelievable find. I did not know anything about bumble bees but we were able to watch the bees come into land and watch how they 'communicate' with each other using their bodies against certain angles from the sun. 

I decided to go to Greenland because I really wanted to be challenged. It was the kick-start my gap year needed. I always felt at school I had a lot of potential in the outdoor field but I never had the chance to fulfil it. My interest in science confirmed this trip to be just right for me, as it combined science with adventure and travelling. So when the chance arose to go to such an untouched world I could not pass this once in a lifetime opportunity up. 

While in Greenland I had an amazing time. The scenery was superb. My fire (expedition group) was a great bunch of people from all walks of life. I made some really good friends and I learnt skills that will stay with me for the rest of my life. 

Coming back from Greenland also confirmed my desire to study a Geography-based degree at university. I have also continued travelling and putting my Greenland experience to good use, spending time hiking around the South Island of New Zealand. It was a fantastic adventure and I hope to return to the Arctic in the near future."



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