Buzz Map: Insect DNA Mapping

You’ll learn about setting up the Malaise trap, supporting sample collection, processing and identification, as well as helping us with activities to engage visitors with the project and insect conservation.

This citizen science project is perfect for anyone who wants to be part of understanding and safeguarding our local insect populations, and especially for anyone looking to learn more about careers in biodiversity science, conservation, or develop skills in science engagement and education.

We will provide training and support around sample processing and identification- no experience necessary!

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The sessions will be held monthly, and you’re welcome to come to just one session, or more regularly. The more often you come, the more you’ll be able to build your knowledge and hear more about what insects you’ve helped us discover.

Why get involved with The Buzz Map?

Walthamstow Wetlands is Europe’s largest urban wetland. The 211 hectare site comprises 10 operational reservoirs which provide drinking water to London, and a commercial fishery; it is a nationally important site for breeding and overwintering water birds and other wildlife, and forms part of an internationally important site for waterfowl. Owned and operated by Thames Water, the Wetlands’ nature reserve management, biodiversity monitoring and visitor engagement is undertaken by London Wildlife Trust under contract to Waltham Forest Council.

Wellcome Connecting Science's mission is to enable everyone to explore genomic science and its impact on research, health and society.

The BIOSCAN project is part of a collaboration with the Wellcome Sanger Institute’s Tree of Life programme which investigates the diversity of complex organisms through sequencing and cellular technologies. They generate and use high-quality genome sequences to explore the evolution of life, provide the raw materials for new biotechnology and deliver tools and understanding for biodiversity conservation.

Ethical Considerations:

The insects we collect in our malaise traps are humanely killed before their DNA is studied. The deliberate or reckless killing of any life, even for scientific study, requires careful ethical consideration. This is not something we take lightly and are aware that there might be concerns and questions around this method of sampling. It is important to always consider whether a destructive method of sampling is truly necessary for a piece of research. In the case of the BIOSCAN project, this monitoring effort will help us to understand insect populations and to improve our DNA barcode database so that in the future, we will be able to monitor them in a non-destructive way. The methods follow approved standards are restricted in locations around the site and over time; it is unlikely than anything other than a small sample of the whole site’s insect biota is affected by this research.

In future the data gathered will inform our approaches to the Wetlands’ management.

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