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nitrogen leads to the displacement of
less-competitive wildflowers which are
favoured by bumblebees, in favour of a
few highly competitive plant species. A
number of metals have been detected
in roadside verges which originate from
Are road vehicles, including aluminium, copper,
nickel and zinc. Research suggests
bees change their foraging behaviour
verges good when exposed to some metals, and road verges and their impact - positive
Photo: Josh Gazzard, Plantlife
this could have subsequent negative
impacts on colony success. In a study
or bad for Photo by Dr Nikki Gammans on metal contamination and foraging or negative - on bumblebees. I am
particularly interested in how metal
behaviour, bumblebees spent 75% less
time foraging on nickel contaminated
pollution, noise and vibration affects
bumblebees? flowers compared to uncontaminated bumblebees at individual and colony
flowers.
level. Also, if different road speeds and
traffic volumes influence foraging and
So, when planting road verges out
with bee-friendly seed mixes, are we nesting behaviour. By working with
Highways England, I have a unique
Claire Wallis, PhD postgraduate researcher, addresses a very important inadvertently exposing bumblebees to opportunity to survey large trunk roads
question: are road verges good or bad for bumblebees? Supervised by a variety of adverse impacts associated that would otherwise be inaccessible.
Dr Lynn Dicks, at the University of East Anglia, in collaboration with the with traffic? And how do these impacts My results will not only fill a gap in
Bumblebee Conservation Trust and Highways England. balance against the benefits of extra scientific knowledge, but also help
foraging and nesting habitat?
to inform both large companies, like
Over the next three years, I will conduct Highways England, and local councils
At first glance, this seems a fairly so close to road traffic. Road dust may field and lab based studies to answer
straight forward question. However, mask with, or interfere with, floral cues some major questions concerning on how best to manage their road
many different factors make answering it like scent and ultra-violet patterns. verges for bumblebees.
quite challenging. Noise and vibration from passing traffic
could disturb nesting bumblebees. Also,
Road verges have masses of potential bumblebees trying to cross roads may
for bumblebees. Urbanisation means be hit by oncoming traffic. A study in
the road network is expanding, so the Sweden found different species of bees
area of land occupied by roadside and wasps on opposite sides of a busy
verges is increasing. Road verges can road, suggesting the road was a barrier
provide undisturbed soil for nesting, to movement.
floral resources, and can also improve
the connectivity of the landscape. In fact, One pollutant from vehicles, nitrogen, is
road verges could be a much needed known to negatively impact bumblebees
refuge for bumblebees, especially in through its impact on flowering plants.
areas that are predominately agricultural. There is twice as much nitrogen in soils

However, bumblebees could experience close to roads than areas 500 metres
or more away from roads. Excess
negative effects from nesting or feeding bumblebeeconservation.teemill.co.uk
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