Research
The Bumblebee Conservation Trust is based at the University of Stirling and works closely with the scientific research group here which is run by Prof. Dave Goulson (BBCT Trustee). Scientific evidence should underpin good conservation work, but in many cases the evidence isn't yet there, which is of course where research comes in.
In general these scientific projects are not directly funded by BBCT.
Dr. Olivier Lepas
The effect of mass-flowering crops on bumblebee populations
"I'm currently working on in interesting project which aims to determine whether mass-flowering crops like oil-seed rape and field beans help or hinder local bumblebee populations. You might imagine that all of those flowers would be a good thing, but perhaps the nests grow too quickly and then die when the crops finish flowering - we don't know. We're also studying nearby wild flowers to see whether the flowering crops attract pollinators to the area and increase pollination, or whether they instead attract pollinators away."
Funded by BBSRC
Gillian Lye
Bumblebee Nesting Ecology & Conservation
"I'm currently studying for a PhD looking at how to improve agricultural areas for bumblebees. I'm hoping to find out more about the nesting sites bumblebees like to use, and how they find them. I'm also studing the short-haired bumblebee, which is extinct in the UK. We'd like to know more about what it uses and how healthy it is out there with a view to, perhaps one day bringing it back."
Funded by NERC
Nicky Redpath
"Many areas of machair aren't what they use to be. Changes in management have left large tracts severely degraded. In some areas, groups like BBCT and RSPB are trying to restore the machair, but we don't really know how to go about it. My research will hopefully identify the best techniques.
Funded by SNH (grant to BBCT), the University of Stirling and the RSPB
Steph O'Connor
Leverhulme funded sniffer dog project
"You may have seen Toby and me on the news - we're getting quite famous! My reseach project aims to use a bumblebee sniffer dog to find bumblebee nests. We'll then fit these nests with monitoring cameras so that we can follow them throughout the season and learn about nest predation and survivorship. We also hope to learn more about where the different species prefer to nest - all exciting stuff!"
Funded by the Leverhulme Trust
Penelope Whitehorn
The role of parasites in bumblebee declines
"Bumblebees have long been known to harbour a great number and diversity of parasites, some of which have significant impacts on the fitness of colonies. However, less is understood about the relationship between parasites and the recent declines in a number of bumblebee species. My research aims to improve this understanding. I will focus on isolated and inbred populations of bumblebees and investigate whether they suffer from an increased parasite load."
Funded by NERC
Lynne Osgathorpe
Reconciling ecology and socio-economics to conserve the
Great Yellow Bumblebee
"The rare Great Yellow Bumblebee is strongly associated with crofted areas. The traditional low intensity methods used by crofters are extremely important in maintaining the unique 'machair' habitat. However, the crofting way of life is itself under threat. My research aims to reconcile the needs of crofters with that of the Great Yellow Bumblebee. I am examining social and economic issues and aim to use this information to look for ways in which environmental support schemes can be improved to benefit crofters and promote bumblebee conservation.
Funded by SNH
