Giant Patagonian bumblebee (Bombus dahlbomii) Case Study
Home > Biodiversity Nature & People > Conservation Philanthropy > Grants > MBZF Grant 210527048
Continent: South America
Country: Argentina
Grant Amount: $5,000
Awarded Date: December 16, 2021
Carolina Laura Morales
Grupo Ecologia de la Polinizacion INIBIOMA, Universidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICET
Quintral 1250
Bariloche
Rio Negro
8400
Argentina
Tel: 02944776920
Mob: 02944776920
SAVING THE PATAGONIAN GIANT BUMBLEBEE FROM EXTINCTION BY REMOVING ITS MAIN THREAT, THE INVASIVE BUFF TAILED BUMBLEBEE
SAVING THE PATAGONIAN GIANT BUMBLEBEE FROM EXTINCTION BY REMOVING ITS MAIN THREAT, THE INVASIVE BUFF TAILED BUMBLEBEE. Bombus dahlbomii, the world's largest bumblebee has drastically declined since the invasion of European Bombus terrestris following commercial introduction in Chile for crop pollination. By downregulating the importation of colonies and reducing the local densities of this invader we expect the recovery of B. dahlbomii populations.
We aim to encourage recovery of B. dahlbomii populations by boosting the success of emerging foundress queens through culling invasive bumblebees, to reduce pathogen spillover and competition for nesting and food resources. While the viability of this approach will be tested at specific target sites and thus cover a local scale, target sites have high visibility by visitors, enabling their use as case examples in community science and public outreach programs reaching a much broader area. We expect that by combining on-site actions with broad communication, we can foster awareness about the problem of invasive species, and thus enhance our objective of promoting instances of dialogue between Argentinian and Chilean authorities to downregulate the importation of European bumblebee colonies in Chile. Our specific objectives are. 1) At the local scale, to remove B. terrestris in selected sites in the ANPBR. 2) At the regional scale, to promote empathy, critical thinking and commitment in local communities of the ANPBR on this species to favor educational, communication and active actions towards its conservation- 3) At the national and binational scales, to promote the instances of dialogue between Argentinean and Chilean authorities to regulate the importation of European bumblebee colonies in Chile.
Grant documents
- This is an informal "Family Photo Album" of the Project showcasing some of the activities carried out during the last 18 months
- Chapter "Vi un Abejorro" from the Book “Ciencia ciudadana y Polinizadores de América del Sur”, spanish version. The complete book can be downloaded from: https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fd
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