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Study sheds light on ground-nesting bee habitats
Far less is known about ground-nesting bees than honeybees or bumblebees.

Public helps to gather valuable results

A citizen science project run by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), has revealed that solitary, ground-nesting bees are capable of nesting in a wide variety of habitats. This research could help to protect these important pollinators through better land management.

As solitary bees’ nests can be difficult to find, there has been little research into their nesting behaviour. By enlisting the help of the general public, ARU researchers were able to conduct a far more expansive study. In total they received almost 400 submissions during 2017.

The public were asked to report active nesting sites of four solitary species that nest in aggregations. These species were:

  • The ashy mining bee
  • The tawny mining bee
  • The ivy bee
  • The yellow-legged furrow bee.

Verifiable recordings revealed that the bees studied were able to nest in a broad range of habitats, with varying preferences between species.

Tawny mining bees were typically seen nesting on flat ground (82 per cent). 68 per cent of these nests were in at least partial shade. In contrast, ivy bee nests were found on both flat and sloped land, and 74 per cent of these nests were fully exposed to sunlight.

Senior lecturer in zoology at ARU Dr Thomas Ings, who is also the senior author of the study, said: “By enlisting the general public we have been able to increase awareness of solitary bees and at the same time collect valuable information on nest site characteristics.

“This information on nesting behaviour is highly valuable because it puts us in a better position to provide advice to land owners on how to manage their land sympathetically in order to protect these important, ground-nesting solitary bees.”

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.