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There are a number of opportunities for hobby beekeepers and other citizens to assist professional bee researchers via a number of research projects that encourage data collection from citizen scientists. Here are some links to these opportunities:
The syndrome known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has decimated many commercial bee yards. But, the effects of this syndrome on feral honeybee colonies is not clear. By taking up bee hunting and using the BeeHunting.com website to document GPS coordinates of feral honeybee nests you will be giving researchers a head start in locating these elusive insects. Once the locations are documented, the health of feral honeybee colonies can be monitored over subsequent years.
In this research project, researchers are working to correlate nectar collection to changes in satellite imagery of land regions. They are looking for beekeeper volunteers to weigh their hives on a daily basis. Any nectar flows will be associated with sudden increases in the weight of the hive.
By watching and recording the bees at sunflowers in your garden, you can help researchers understand the challenges that bees are facing. Sign up with the Great Sunflower Project. They will send you sunflower seeds to grow in your garden. Once they are in bloom, record the number of bee visits over a specific time period, then input your data on their website.
In 2007, the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation and the Greenbelt Native Plant Center began the Great Pollinator Project (GPP) in collaboration with the Great Sunflower Project in San Francisco, CA.
Texas Bee Watchers are Citizen-Scientists who are currently developing a list of Texas Bee-Friendly Plants for use by land managers, homeowners, and others. They work to increase appreciation and understanding of native bee pollinators in Texas. They are also establishing demonstration gardens showcasing bee-friendly plants.
A project from the University of Illinois to gather data about honey bees and bumble bees in the state of Illinois.
Bee Inventory, Monitoring and ID
A group of bee researchers maintain a Yahoo Group for communications purposes. This group of researchers is heavily involved in field data collection. They ocassionally have need for citizen scientists to assist with field based data collection. If there is a project in your area, you could get involved. So, monitor the postings on this Yahoo Group, but don't be intrusive. Contact researchers directly rather than posting to the entire group.
Please, let me know of any other research opportunities. I will document them here. -- Tom Manger
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