A researcher from Laurentian University is preparing to launch a unique study utilizing honey bees to aid in restoration efforts at the Côté Gold Mine near Gogama, Ontario. Mateus Pepinelli secured a $100,000 grant from IAMGOLD to collaborate on a two-year research initiative. The bees will be tasked with gathering environmental DNA from the reclamation areas surrounding the mine site. Pepinelli described the honey bees as valuable research assistants, as they will collect data for the project.
During the upcoming summer, Pepinelli, alongside a team from IAMGOLD, will establish three apiaries in the vicinity of the mine’s remediation zones. Each apiary will be equipped with a small fan fitted with a filter designed to capture traces of DNA that the bees bring back to the hive. Pepinelli explained that the filters will trap minute remnants of external elements the bees come in contact with.
Following this, Pepinelli and his team will retrieve the filters to extract the environmental DNA for laboratory analysis. The researcher highlighted the wealth of information that can be gleaned from filtering the air, including data on various plant and micro-organism species, pathogens, and undesirable elements like varroa mites.
Jessica Tratnik, IAMGOLD’s environmental and social governance lead at the Côté Gold Mine, emphasized the significance of the honey bee data in monitoring the progress of the rehabilitation efforts. The insights gathered from the bees will allow the company to assess ecological changes continuously, aiding in the identification of potential issues such as plant species shortages or insufficient pollination.
Tratnik underscored the efficiency of using bees to provide consistent information compared to manual observation over time. She expressed the importance of understanding the ecological dynamics in the landscape beyond direct physical observation. Graeme Jennings, IAMGOLD’s vice president of investor relations, noted that the Coté Gold Mine is projected to operate for over 20 more years, emphasizing the importance of ongoing land rehabilitation efforts to ensure the restoration of the ecosystem in a timely manner.
