New study examines mining impact on area's pollinators
'Current land uses may have a greater influence on pollinating insects than disturbance caused by mining.’
A new report examines the impact of mining on pollinating insects. It has found current land uses may have a greater influence than mining practices. As part of the report, researchers and volunteers collected insect samples from food forest sites over the summer months. (Supplied/Kaleigh Mooney)
That’s according to new research done by Trent University in conjunction with Sudbury Shared Harvest.
“Simply put, it does not seem to matter if there is mining disturbance nearby, as long as there is enough forested area to supply the pollinator population with supplementary food resources and nesting habitat,” said author and undergraduate student Kaleigh Mooney.
“That said a new study with more sample sites would be beneficial to draw stronger conclusions about the relationship between pollinator groups and surrounding green space.”
Volunteers and Sudbury Shared Harvest staff collected insect samples from food forest sites over the summer months.
Volunteers and Sudbury Shared Harvest staff collected insect samples from food forest sites over the summer months as part of the research study. (Supplied/Kaleigh Mooney)
Her report is part of a long-term study by Sudbury Shared Harvest in collaboration with researchers at Trent University and Sir Sandford Fleming College that takes a look into the effects of heavy metal contamination in soils.
A new report examines the impact of mining on pollinating insects. It has found current land uses may have a greater influence than mining practices. Kaleigh Mooney, an undergraduate student and the author of the report, collecting insect samples in the summer of 2023. (Supplied/Kaleigh Mooney)
“So the big conclusions I would draw from this study are those island gardens, like having the most amount of garden space available for pollinators, is a really essential tool for increasing the diversity in city areas, especially when it's in close proximity to industrial practices,” said Mooney.
Kaleigh Mooney“In growing native plants, it’s something that a lot of people hadn’t heard of before, when we started our food forest we hadn’t paid a lot of attention to planting native, it was kind of something that we had thought about and considered but more and more now when we plant flowers in our gardens, we’re specifically trying to plant native plants,” said Carrie Regenstreif, co-executive director of Sudbury Shared Harvest.
Regenstreif adds their long-term goal is to share results with the community in the form of guidelines for growing food safely in local soil.
The findings can be found on the group’s website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
3 law officers serving warrant are killed, 5 wounded in shootout at North Carolina home, police say
Three officers on a U.S. Marshals Task Force serving a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm were killed and five other officers were wounded in a shootout Monday at a North Carolina home, police said.
'Shocked and concerned': Calgary principal charged with possession of child pornography
A Calgary elementary school principal has been charged with possession of child pornography, authorities announced Monday.
Health authority confirms cockroaches at B.C. hospital, insists they 'do not bite'
The Vancouver Island Health Authority is downplaying what staff describe as a cockroach infestation in a medical unit of Saanich Peninsula Hospital.
Toronto police arrest 12 people, lay 102 charges in major credit card fraud scheme
Toronto police say 12 people are facing a combined 102 charges in connection with an investigation into a major credit fraud scheme.
Winner of US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot is an immigrant from Laos who has cancer
One of the winners of a historic US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot last month is an immigrant from Laos who has had cancer for eight years and had his latest chemotherapy treatment last week.
Britney and Jamie Spears settlement avoids long, potentially ugly and revealing trial
Britney Spears and her father Jamie Spears will avoid what could have been a long, ugly and revealing trial with a settlement of the lingering issues in the court conservatorship that controlled her life and financial decisions for nearly 14 years.
WATCH 'Double whammy': What happens if you don't file your taxes by the deadline
The clock is ticking ahead of the deadline to file a 2023 income tax return. A personal finance expert explains why you should get them done -- even if you owe more than you can pay.