Evaluation of a Citizen Science eDNA-Approach to monitor Insect-Flower Interactions
Flower strips play an important role in agriculture in terms of insect conservation. New DNA-based methods make it possible to record the diversity of pollinators simply and efficiently, enabling different flower strips to be compared and assessed more effectively.
What are the aims of the project?
- Evaluation of wildflower strips to develop optimised seed mixtures that promote ta high insect diversity.
- Measurement of the interaction between plants and insects in wildflower strips using environmental DNA, carried out by farmers, as a basis for optimised wildflower strip management.
- Raising awareness of the importance of wildflower strips in promoting insect biodiversity for site-adapted and sustainable agriculture.
How can you participate in the project?
The project involves farmers from Austria acting as citizen scientists, who maintain a wildflower strip of at least 700 m² that is at least 2–3 years old.
Flower heads are placed in bags of water to wash away the traces of DNA left behind by insects.
© Marajana Ljubisavljevic
The wash water is drawn through a filter using a syringe, on which the insects’ DNA accumulates.
© Marajana Ljubisavljevic
A variety of flowers for pollinators.
© Ulla Traugott-Priester