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Project properties |
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| Title | Can buckwheat cultivation contribute to wild pollinator conservation? |
| Group | Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group |
| Project type | thesis |
| Credits | 36 |
| Supervisor(s) | Thijs Fijen |
| Examiner(s) | Thijs Fijen |
| Contact info | thijs.fijen@wur.nl |
| Begin date | 2024/05/01 |
| End date | 2024/11/01 |
| Description | Buckwheat is a crop of the old days, but is gaining more ground due to an increase of demand and the biodiversity benefits it has. It is flowering for 100 days, and very rich in nectar and pollen. In the current agricultural landscapes, nectar and pollen are limiting factors for many insects like bees and hoverflies, and by growing buckwheat these insects might benefit. In this project we will monitor the newly established cultivation of buckwheat on old common agricultural soils (essen), and test whether and how this influences wild pollinators. Furthermore, we want to test the relative contributions of honeybees and wild pollinators to the crop yield of organically grown buckwheat. Your thesis project will contribute to gain leverage for new and biodiversity friendly agricultural systems.
The work will start around May 2024, and the fieldwork will be in June-August 2024 and takes place in Drenthe, Friesland and Groningen, the Netherlands. It is suitable for both a MSc thesis or a MSc internship. For more information, contact Thijs Fijen (thijs.fijen@wur.nl). |
| Used skills | Insect monitoring, GIS, statistical analyses |
| Requirements | Driving licence, experience with insect monitoring |