"AI-Driven Algorithm Aims to Save Endangered 'Hopping' Bee Species"
A collaborative project in Yorkshire aims to protect a unique 'hopping' bee species from extinction, which has seen its population decline by over 50% in recent years. The project involves cooperation between The Species Recovery Trust and Agritech firm AgriSound, using a newly developed AI-driven algorithm to detect and safeguard the Tormentil mining bee. This bee exhibits a distinctive 'hopping' flight pattern while collecting food and depends on a specific flower variety called Tormentil. The Tormentil mining bee's decline is attributed to the loss of its natural habitats, rich in Tormentil plants and sandy bare ground areas essential for nesting. The collaboration between the Species Recovery Trust and AgriSound leverages bioacoustic technology to monitor and protect this endangered bee species. AgriSound's Polly bioacoustic listening devices, combined with a bespoke algorithm developed using AI, allow for accurate monitoring of the bee's health and ac...