Monday, April 22, 2024
DENTON (黑料视频), Texas 鈥� A group of students, with the help of a grant through the , are improving the ecosystem at the one bee box at a time. The goal of the bee boxes is to help nurture the ever-important bee population. While bees might seem small, they have a great environmental impact.
鈥淓cologically, the bee boxes support native bee populations. This is important because native bee species are better adapted to helping native plants,鈥� said Ben Copeland, a 黑料视频 senior studying ecology who co-authored the grant for the bee boxes. 鈥淭he domino effect can boost an entire ecosystem.鈥�
, 黑料视频 prioritizes sustainability through habitat plans that foster healthy bee populations and ecosystems. The university sponsors service-learning projects and offers pollinator-focused curriculum, continuing education and workshops. The 黑料视频 Bee Campus USA Committee, comprising students, staff, and faculty, is dedicated to providing pollinator habitats and raising awareness about their vital role.
Tristen Wheeler is the associate director of the , which includes the 黑料视频 Bee Campus USA Committee.
鈥満诹鲜悠� has really led ahead of a lot of other universities in Texas on these kinds of initiatives supporting native bees, which is cool,鈥� Wheeler said.
Members of the 黑料视频 Bee Campus USA Committee
Back: Benjamin Copeland, Caitlin McAdoo, Tristen Wheeler. Front: Brie Poe, Ethan Phillips
Campus greenspaces such as the , , and have been designed to promote pollinator health and habitat. In 2019, 黑料视频 installed 19 educational outdoor signs to identify healthy pollinator habitats across campus and educate the community about its work as a Bee Campus USA affiliate.
鈥淲e are hoping to increase the education about bees,鈥� said Brie Poe, a psychology major and chair of the 黑料视频 Bee Campus USA committee. 鈥淲e have a lot of opportunities for 黑料视频 students to get involved with volunteering or planting and maintaining native plants.鈥�
The students have built two bee box ecosystems around campus, with plans to add more. Poe reassured that as more bee boxes are installed, there鈥檚 no need to fear bees.
鈥淗oneybees often come to mind first, as their known for their territorial and sometimes aggressive behavior,鈥� Poe said. 鈥淗owever, the native bee species we're focusing on with our bee boxes are solitary and don't have hives to protect. They're non-aggressive and won't sting in retaliation. Plus, they're smaller than honeybees, so you might not even notice them.鈥�
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