Developing the BEESOCOSM - a modular, multi-species bee cage for laboratory experiments (NEC05913)

GSTDTAP

项目编号	NE/P008844/1
	Developing the BEESOCOSM - a modular, multi-species bee cage for laboratory experiments (NEC05913)
	[unavailable]
主持机构	NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
项目开始年	2016
	2016-10-03
项目结束日期	2017-10-02
资助机构	UK-NERC
项目类别	Research Grant
国家	英国
语种	英语
英文摘要	Testing the impact of chemicals on pollinators in a laboratory is a key step to understand the impacts they may have in the environment. Currently standard toxicity testing on bees is limited to the honey bee, although there have been calls for more routine tests in other species. Standardised tests suggest that test cages to hold groups of bees are "easy to clean [and] well ventilated" and that that the size is "appropriate to the number of bees". One problem is that there is currently no stipulation for the type of cage that experiments are performed in and there is no commercially available product that delivers this. In a series of workshops held by COLOSS (an international research network composed of >300 partners from >60 countries) it was determined that an improved method for maintaining honey bees in cages was required. In addition there is a widening recognition that experiments should be longer than the standard 48 hours to better mimic the real world. It is important that bees are tested fairly under similar conditions for results to be fully comparable. We have developed a prototype cage that is designed specifically to allow testing in multiple bee species and overcomes problems with handling and stress. The funding will allow us to refine our prototype cage design and evaluate its efficacy in simple trials to provide proof of commerciality. We will capture the design specification and produce a detailed description of its components and potential uses. Following this we will explore the opportunities for patent and design registration using a patent attorney. Simultaneously we will explore the potential (in confidence) with a number of stakeholders, including other researchers, designer and regulatory/testing authorities. Both investigators have well developed contacts in these areas (e.g. in chemical and bio-pesticide registration). If feedback is positive we will have brief, preliminary discussions with a commercial designer to scope out the next steps for the project and develop a commercial business plan with consultants. These activities will provide us with the data and ideas to help develop a follow-on proposal.
来源学科分类	Natural Environment Research
文献类型	项目
条目标识符	http://119.78.100.173/C666/handle/2XK7JSWQ/86364
专题	环境与发展全球科技态势
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	[unavailable].Developing the BEESOCOSM - a modular, multi-species bee cage for laboratory experiments (NEC05913).2016.