2025-LU12 Development of non-invasive sampling methods for the study of pollinators

Project highlights

Development of non-invasive sampling technologies

Analytical chemistry experience, including gas chromatography and mass spectrometry

Statistical analysis

Overview

Insects are vital to the UK’s ecosystems. They are important to the pollination of crops and flowering plants, contribute to the fertilisation of soils, and serve as a food source for a range of other animals. Unfortunately, many insect pollinators are threatened or in decline. This is due to a range of factors including climate change, pesticides and pollution, habitat loss, invasive species and disease. Further research to understand insect populations is urgently required to prevent and reverse this decline.

The study of pheromones and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from insects is important for monitoring their health. In bees, these chemical signatures play vital roles in the maintenance of the colony, including regulation of social behaviour, foraging, reproduction, swarming and defence. A common approach to study these chemicals is to remove exocrine glands, heads or antennae post-mortem and to extract the chemicals using solvents. As well as the ethical downsides of this approach, VOCs extracted post-mortem may be different to those emitted from live and active insects, which could impact the reliability of the resulting data. Therefore, in this project we are seeking to develop an approach to non-invasively assess the health of live bee colonies, and other insect pollinators.

The project will develop a device to safely sample the air (‘headspace’) surrounding bee hives, enabling samples to be collected non-invasively at specific time intervals. Analysis of the samples using gas chromatography – mass spectrometry will evaluate changes in pheromones, markers of stress, metabolism and other physiological activity, and how this relates to environmental pollutants in the surrounding area. Loughborough University are fortunate to have a campus apiary, which is home to a range of established bee colonies. The project will collect samples from the campus apiary and partner facilities, including the butterfly enclosure, nature reserve and bordering land at Twycross Zoo, to study a range of pollinators in different habitats and the impact of changes in land use. The collection of this large data set will provide further insights into insect health, provide earlier detection of stress and disease, and point towards future strategies for their protection.

Figure 1: A simplified schematic of the proposed sampling device. Air samples will be collected onto thermal desorption tubes. Programmable valves will enable active sampling to take place at specific time points.

CENTA Flagship

This is a CENTA Flagship Project

Case funding

This project is suitable for CASE funding

Host

Loughborough University

Theme

Organisms and Ecosystems

Supervisors

Project investigator

Dr Matthew Turner, Loughborough University, [email protected]

Co-investigators

Dr Amy Managh, Loughborough University, [email protected]
Dr Stuart Young, Twycross Zoo, [email protected]
Katherine Finch, Twycross Zoo, [email protected]
Dr Helen Martin, Markes International, [email protected]

How to apply

Each host has a slightly different application process.
Find out how to apply for this studentship.
All applications must include the CENTA application form.
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Methodology

The project will design devices to collect headspace samples from areas of interest, including bee hives, butterfly enclosures, and the surrounding environment. The samplers will actively sample by drawing air through thermal desorption tubes at a determined time and rate. This will enable the compounds of interest to be concentrated for analysis and related to a specific time point in the day. Such information may reveal insights into the natural rhythms of pollinators and their responses to threats and stress. Analysis of the collected samples will take place via gas chromatography – mass spectrometry, enabling the detection of pheromones, such as isoamyl acetate and octadecenoic acid methyl ester, as well as identifying biomarkers of stress and metabolic functions, including aldehydes and ketones. A range of solid samples (e.g. wax, honey, vegetation and remains of naturally deceased insects) will be collected and analysed in parallel.

Training and skills

DRs will be awarded CENTA Training Credits (CTCs) for participation in CENTA-provided and ‘free choice’ external training. One CTC can be earned per 3 hours training, and DRs must accrue 100 CTCs across the three and a half years of their PhD.

The student will have access to a range of relevant short courses through our MSc Chemistry programmes, plus Doctoral College training courses, aligned with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework. Project specific training, including safe handling of bees, computational design of equipment, operation of mass spectrometry instrumentation, data reduction and advanced statistical methods, will be provided at Loughborough. There will also be opportunities to get involved on outreach activities to promote insect conservation, both at Loughborough University and with Twycross Zoo’s specialist Conservation Education team.

Partners and collaboration

The project will be supported by two collaborative partners, Twycross Zoo and Markes International. Twycross have a recognised commitment to native species conservation through their 2023-2030 Conservation Strategy, and regularly engage in studies to help improve scientific understanding of the abundance, distribution and movement of butterfly species in the UK. They will provide access to Twycross Zoo Nature Reserve and the butterfly enclosure, as well as guidance on conservation of endangered British species. Markes International are experts in the development of technology for collecting volatile chemical signatures and will provide the student with equipment support, training and an industrial placement.

Further details

For further information about this project, please contact:

Dr. Matthew Turner ([email protected]), Department of Chemistry Loughborough University, https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/chemistry/staff/matthew-turner/, or
Dr. Amy Managh ([email protected]) Department of Chemistry, Loughborough University, http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/chemistry/staff/academic-research/amy-managh/

To apply to this project: 

You must include a CENTA studentship application form, downloadable from: CENTA Studentship Application Form 2025.

You must include a CV with the names of at least two referees (preferably three) who can comment on your academic abilities.

Please submit your application and complete the host institution application process via: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/research-applications/ The CENTA Studentship Application Form 2025 and CV, along with other supporting documents required by Loughborough University, can be uploaded at Section 10 “Supporting Documents” of the online portal. Under Section 4 “Programme Selection” the proposed study centre is Central England NERC Training Alliance. Please quote CENTA 2025-LU12 when completing the application form.

For further enquiries about the application process, please contact the School of Social Sciences & Humanities ([email protected]).

Applications must be submitted by 23:59 GMT on Wednesday 8th January 2025. 

Possible timeline

Year 1

Training in mass spectrometry, computational design and basic coding. Design and testing of a novel sampling device to collect headspace samples from beehives. Alpha and beta testing firstly in a lab environment, with first test measurements on bees to commence in Summer 2026.

Year 2

Measurements of bees to continue throughout Year 2. Modification of the device to collect samples from other pollinators, as appropriate, followed by deployment at project partner sites. Publication on the technological aspects of the sampling apparatus. Training in advanced statistical methods for data reduction.

Year 3

Statistical analysis of the data to identify trends in rhythms and environmental conditions. Further sampling, as required. Outreach activities with Loughborough and project partners. Publication and conference presentation on the experimental data. Commence writing up of the thesis.