Innovative pilot run at Cemex quarry to identify insect species
Published by Rebecca Bowden,
Assistant Editor
World Cement,
A nature monitoring scheme that analyses the DNA of insects has been used for the first time in the UK to evaluate the natural condition and environmental health of a site, with the aim of providing the next generation of solutions to improve habitats for wildlife across Cemex’s 400 operational sites.
The pilot was run at Cemex’s Rugely quarry site, near Cannock in the West Midlands. It revealed two rare and scarce species of fly. Cemex UK is working with the RSPB to restore lowland health to the site.
Cemex UK and RSPB have collaborated with the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario (BIO) and System Applications Products (SAP) to collect insects using a Malaise trap¬ and apply DNA barcoding technologies with data analytics to map the species found at the site.
The results revealed the presence of two nationally rare flies, Eurthyneura albipennis and Platypalpus pulicarius, both species only recorded on three UK sites, plus two nationally scarce species Meromyza mosquensis and Rhaphium micans.
“Both this ground breaking technology and the results are of tremendous importance and it has been fascinating to find such rare species present at Rugeley. The DNA anaylsis of insects could offer the next generation of solutions to managing and conserving the biodiversity around the company’s 400 operational sites,” comments Andy Spencer, Director of Sustainability, CEMEX UK.
Once the insects were captured in the Malaise trap, their DNA sequences were collected and compared to the BIO’s database of over 5.5 million species barcode sequences to give an accurate species map for the collection site.
Sam Tarrant, RSPB Business Conservation Manager, said: “This new innovative project is another brilliant example of conservation and business working effectively together to help build a brighter future for nature. Using the insect DNA we are able to establish the natural condition of sites and then work with Cemex on how best to move forward to turn them into first class homes for nature.”
“It’s amazing to see these former quarry sites returned to nature and to watch the flocks of birds, wild plants and insects slowly take over. To think a few years ago Cemex was excavating minerals from some of these areas and now they are beautiful nature reserves alive with wildlife for everyone to enjoy.
The scheme will help to map species found on these restored wildlife sites and allow conservationists to develop the habitat perfect for the UK’s struggling species.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/10032017/innovative-pilot-run-at-cemex-quarry-to-identify-insect-species/
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