A researcher from Laurentian University is preparing to initiate a study utilizing honey bees to aid in restoration efforts at the Côte Gold Mine near Gogama, Ontario. Mateus Pepinelli secured a $100,000 grant from IAMGOLD to collaborate on the two-year initiative. The bees will gather environmental DNA from the reclamation areas surrounding the mine site as a crucial part of the project.
Describing honey bees as valuable research assistants, Pepinelli highlighted their role in data collection. Over the summer, Pepinelli and a team from IAMGOLD will establish three apiaries near the mine’s remediation zones. Each apiary will feature a small fan with a specialized filter to capture DNA traces carried into the hive by the bees during their foraging trips.
Pepinelli and his team will recover the filters and extract the environmental DNA for laboratory analysis. This process allows for the identification of various plant and microorganism species, including pathogens and unwanted elements like varroa mites, providing valuable insights into the ecosystem.
Jessica Tratnik, the environmental and social governance lead at the Côte Gold Mine for IAMGOLD, emphasized the significance of the data obtained from the honey bees in monitoring the progress of rehabilitation efforts. The information helps the company understand ecological changes continuously and ensures effective rehabilitation, such as planting native seeds and addressing species shortages or pollination issues promptly.
Tratnik noted the efficiency of using bees to consistently gather ecological data that might otherwise go unnoticed. This method offers insights into landscape dynamics that are not easily observable over time, supporting ongoing rehabilitation efforts at the mine. Graeme Jennings, IAMGOLD’s vice president of investor relations, highlighted the mine’s long-term operational outlook, emphasizing the commitment to sustainable land rehabilitation practices as an integral part of the company’s operations.