Page 7 - Bumblebee Conservation Trust Member Magazine Spring 2020

Researching

pollinator

flower choice

using DNA

metabarcoding

Former Bumblebee Conservation Our molecular techniques, using DNA ‘weeds’ in our gardens is very beneficial
Trust Green Lanes for Bumblebees metabarcoding, enable us to investigate to our pollinators.
trainee Lucy Witter, gives an insight pollinator foraging behaviour over a As part of our research, we have also
into research being carried out at the longer period of time, by identifying all been trialling annual pollinator friendly
National Botanic Garden of Wales, of the pollen being carried on the body seed mixes to investigate if they are
investigating the flower choice of of the insect. During this process, pollen attracting a diversity of wild pollinators,
wild and managed pollinators. The is collected from the body of the insect including bumblebees, hoverflies and
research group is led by Bumblebee and the plant DNA, of which the pollen solitary bees. Initial results from these
Conservation Trustee and Head of belongs to, is extracted, amplified and trials suggest that seed mixes which
Research and Conservation at the sequenced. The DNA is then compared to include a range of different shaped
Botanic Garden, Dr Natasha de Vere. a reference database of known plant DNA flowers, that are in flower throughout
to identify the plant species being carried the season, attract a greater diversity of
At the National Botanic Garden of by the insect. The results of this work pollinator species.
Wales, we have used a combination of have highlighted the importance of native
observational and molecular techniques plants such as bramble and dandelion to For updates on these projects visit:
to investigate pollinator foraging both wild and managed pollinators. These botanicgarden.wales/
behaviour. are often plants which are disliked by
gardeners, however, keeping patches of
Set in over 200 hectares, the Botanic
Garden is home to around 6,000
different plant types, making it an
excellent site to study which plants our
pollinators like the best. Every month,
from March to October, we record
what is in flower across the Botanic
Garden and Waun Las National Nature
Reserve, so we know what is available
to pollinators compared to what they are
visiting.

Photos: Trial plots at the Botanic Gardens
by Lucy Witter
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