The Louis Bolk Institute has a vacancy for one or two students in two pollination projects. This can be done as an internship.
At the moment, the Louis Bolk Institute and Delphy are running two pollination projects. Both projects already have promising result from the first year. As the project continues, the trials will be continued too. For the coming spring period, we are looking for one or two students that want to carry out and assist us with the field work.
Nature of activities: Describe in detail the activities to be carried out during the internship .
- Carry out pollination experiments in apple/pear orchards which are part of two projects (introduction of mason bees, flower countings, bee countings, pollen sampling)
- Monitor the effect of mason bees on pollination of fruit trees by carrying out field work in Utrecht and Limburg
- Monitor the usage on an introduced bee bank as a nesting habitat for wild bees (Andrena spp)
- Monitor flower visitation by different bee species on alternative floral resources and on fruit trees
- Collect, register and analyse the data with statistical tools
- Write a report on the findings and an easy readable brochure
- Find scientific literature about the same topic
Research questions: If applicable, the research question/s can be described in greater detail.
- What kind of bees (besides the honey bee) are important pollinators in fruit orchards (apple and pear) of the Netherlands?
- How can we monitor pollination in a fruit orchards?
- What implementations and management measures benefit wild bee populations (with a special focus on Osmia and Andrena species) in fruit orchards with a focus on increasing pollination?
- Which implementations derived from the research question above are suitable for Dutch farmers to implement in their fruit orchards?
- How do you translate the outcomes of the field work in a practical brochure for farmers?
Planning: State the internship period and include a time schedule for the various activities to be carried out during the internship. If possible, clearly indicate the phases of the internship.
Half of February/half of March: Preparations and literature review. Getting acquaintance with the people and sites involved.
From mid-March to end-April: During this period, the field work will be carried out, which means driving to farmers fruit orchards and collecting data. It may include setting up traps, observations and identifying bees in the lab.
From end-April to end of May/half of June: Organize the data and start the statistical evaluation. The conclusions of the field work and the outcomes of the tests will be translated into a brochure for farmers whereas I will work on the outline of this brochure if time allows. In this period I will also work on writing the report.
Contact b.luske@louisbolk.nl for more information or to apply.