Tucson Bee Collaborative: Raising Awareness Of Sonoran Desert Bees

Introduction: The Tucson Bee Collaborative is a dedicated group of individuals in Arizona focused on bee conservation. Their mission is to identify and understand the diverse bee species present in the Sonoran Desert, promoting conservation efforts in a region known for its exceptional bee biodiversity.

Founders and Members:

Jennifer Catcher: Jennifer Catcher, a biology instructor at Pima Community College, played a pivotal role in establishing the Tucson Bee Collaborative. She recognized the potential of using DNA barcoding to identify bee species and reached out to entomologist friends.
Kim Franklin: Kim Franklin, the Conservation Science Manager at the Desert Museum, serves as the researcher and scientist within the collaborative. Her primary objective is to explore bee diversity in the Sonoran Desert.
Wendy Moore: Wendy Moore, an associate professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Arizona and the curator of the university's insect collection, is another founder of the Tucson Bee Collaborative.

Tanner Bland: Tanner Bland, a recent graduate in ecology and evolutionary biology, is part of the collaborative, currently working at the University of Arizona's insect collection.

Importance of Bee Diversity: The collaborative's fundamental mission is to uncover the diversity of bee species in the Sonoran Desert. Understanding this diversity is crucial for conservation efforts. Bees are not limited to honey bees; the collaborative focuses on native wild bees, which come in various sizes and can be challenging to identify based on physical characteristics alone.

DNA Barcoding for Identification: To overcome the challenge of identifying these tiny native bees, the Tucson Bee Collaborative employs DNA barcoding. The first step involves extracting DNA from bee legs provided by the Desert Museum. Students grind the bee legs and extract the DNA using specific chemical procedures. The samples are then sent for sequencing, and the resulting DNA sequences are used to determine the bee species. This process involves comparing the sequences with the Barcode of Life database, an international initiative to represent all Earth's species through their DNA.

Database and Diagnostic Tools: The Barcode of Life database is a valuable resource that enables researchers to explore the similarities and differences between DNA sequences, aiding in species identification. The Tucson Bee Collaborative is also building high-resolution image resources of bee specimens, further facilitating identification through connections with DNA barcodes.

Collecting and Identifying Bees: The collaborative conducts extensive research and sampling of bees across different locations within their community. One of their primary study sites, Las Milas, has been consistently sampled for two years, along with three other locations. They emphasize that 97% of bees are solitary ground nesting species, and understanding and conserving these species is crucial.

The Role of Volunteers: Volunteers are essential to the collaborative's work, and they come from diverse backgrounds, including retired scientists and entomology enthusiasts. Each volunteer finds their niche, whether it's in the field for sampling, in the lab for specimen processing, or focusing on the educational aspects of the project.

Advances in Conservation: Over the past six to seven years, the collaborative has collected approximately 30,000 bees. The key challenge now is to identify all these bees, and this is where students play a crucial role. The data generated by this collaborative research directly contributes to conservation efforts by providing insights into the bee populations in the region.

Inspiring the Next Generation: Engaging students and early-career researchers in such research projects fosters a sense of scientific connection and responsibility. They recognize the importance of using their scientific knowledge for the greater good and contributing to conservation efforts.

Center of Bee Diversity: The Sonoran Desert is at the center of global bee diversity, making it an ideal location for the Tucson Bee Collaborative's research and conservation work.

In conclusion, the Tucson Bee Collaborative's DNA barcoding efforts to identify bee species in the Sonoran Desert play a pivotal role in bee conservation. They showcase the value of collaborative research and the importance of understanding bee diversity for effective conservation efforts.

#TucsonBeeCollaborative, #BeeConservation, #DNABarcoding, #SonoranDesertBees, #BeeDiversity

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