The first project to be run under the Buzz Club banner, the ‘Pollinator Abundance Network’ (or PAN) uses pan traps to measure the presence and abundance of lots of different groups of pollinators nationwide.
There is widespread concern that bees and other pollinators are in decline, worldwide and within the UK, but efforts to conserve these vital invertebrates need to be targeted; we need to know which ones are declining most and fastest. To add to this information, PAN has been designed to bring together a network of volunteers from across the UK to take samples of their local pollinators, using pan-trapping over a period of 48 hours in the first few weeks of May, June, July and August.
The collected insects will then be sent to Sussex University for species identification, and allowing us to measure how abundant the different groups and species are. The project was first run in 2014, with 50+ participants taking part in the initial trial. The technique and the experience was well-received by our volunteers, and we found some interesting insects in the returned samples – so we are keen to run it again, at a larger scale, in 2016 and beyond!
Buzz Club Members can can SIGN UP HERE to take part in P.A.N. 2016!
Please note – although member fees go towards materials and the initial postage of project packs to members, we ask that participants are able to cover the postage back to the university at the end of the project (postage is expected to cost ~£2.80).
Please only fill in the sign up if:
- You live within the UK, and can participate for a period of 48 hours once a month for May, June, July and August (you only need to be present to put the pan-traps out and take them back in).
- You are aware what this method of sampling involves
- You are willing to pay to package and send the samples back to Sussex University, as we can’t cover this cost.