South Middlesex Times

Rutgers ecologist Kimberly Russell is spearheading an innovative project aimed at conserving at-risk native bee populations. The initiative involves the installation of "bee bunkers" and "bee hotels" in various locations around New York City. Russell, an associate professor and undergraduate program director in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources at Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, is a community ecologist with a focus on arthropod biodiversity conservation.

The Pollinator Port Project, sponsored by the Ittleson Foundation, is a collaborative effort involving the New York City Department of Transportation, the Horticultural Society of New York, and Rutgers University. Its primary objective is to provide nourishment and shelter for native bees whose populations are under threat.

Russell explained that the concept of bee bunkers was coined by one of her former students, Nina Fedoryka. These structures offer protected soil where female bees can build their nests and lay eggs. Surrounding flowering plants provide food for the bees. However, Russell admits that there is limited research on how effective these bunkers will be.

Bee hotels have been in existence for some time and attract a good proportion of bees that nest in stems and cavities. These installations are crucial because many plant species depend on pollination for survival. Bees are among the most abundant pollinators globally but face numerous threats leading to declining populations.

Russell dismissed concerns about increased chances of bee stings from these confined spaces. She clarified that only two types of bees in the U.S., European honeybees and bumblebees, regularly sting humans as they live in colonies and sting to protect their extended families.

Her research focuses on understanding arthropods' needs as we rely significantly on them for survival despite knowing less about them compared to vertebrates. This project aims to develop habitats for wild bee populations in human-dominated landscapes like cities.

The ultimate goal is to understand if these bee bunkers can attract enough native bees to make a significant impact. Russell also hopes to learn more about how bees navigate around cities and use this information to better place habitats.

The project, if successful, will be extended to other cities in New York, New Jersey, and beyond. The focus will be on large cities like Newark and Philadelphia that are naturally impoverished areas for bees. Russell emphasized that community groups and schools could also participate in this initiative, helping conserve bees while educating the public about their importance.