Protecting Native Bumblebees Through Computer Simulation

Our project will investigate ways to help native bumblebee populations, which are important to
the environment. Bumblebees are pollinators: as they visit flowers, they transfer pollen between
blooms. This helps plants reproduce and produce fruits and seeds, supporting natural ecosystems
and many crops. However, native bumblebees face threats, including habitat loss, pesticide
exposure, and climate change. When flowering areas disappear, bees may have less food and
fewer places to nest. Some pesticides can harm bees, affecting their survival and reproduction.
Changing temperatures and weather patterns can also affect bees and the flowers they depend on.
We plan to explore two solutions: planting more native flowers and reducing pesticide exposure.
Native flowers can provide suitable sources of pollen and nectar, while reducing exposure to
harmful pesticides may lower one risk to bee populations. We will use a computer simulation to
estimate how a bumblebee population could change over time under different conditions. First,
we will research scientific sources and look for data on a native bumblebee species. We will use
available data to set the model’s starting population and make clear assumptions about food
availability and pesticide exposure.
Our simulation will compare four scenarios: current conditions, more native flowers, reduced
pesticide exposure, and both changes combined. We will compare the results to see which
strategy, or combination of strategies, appears most promising in the model. A simulation cannot
guarantee real-world outcomes. This project can help us understand the possible effects of
conservation choices and communicate evidence-based ideas for protecting native bumblebees.