Bee Campus

Summary:

Pollinators, including bees, butterflies, bats, and birds, play a crucial role in fertilizing plants, with over 75% of flowering plants and 35% of global food crops relying on them. However, insect pollinators have been experiencing declines in diversity and population due to factors like habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. Understanding the ecological relationships between plants and pollinators is essential for effective conservation and management, emphasizing the need to consider individual species' requirements and broader ecological contexts. Our project aims to develop initiatives and planning efforts through native conservation, education, and outreach. Therefore, the goal of the bee campus group is to redesign the First Street Towers’ Garden, the Entomology Statue Garden, and the Whistler Hall Pollinator Garden at Purdue University to enhance the ecosystem services for pollinators and to gain a Bee Campus Accreditation for Purdue. Additionally, to create educational materials for the bee committee's sessions and maintain an updated inventory of plants in targeted gardens to assist facilities in choosing suitable additions. Based on our findings, we recommended utilizing plants that improve pollinator populations and local ecosystem biodiversity for Purdue Facilities/Grounds i.e., native plants as the default for any landscape. This could mean the potential use of a non-native plant if it does not harm the other plants within the vicinity if it can survive in our hardy range, and if it is beneficial.

FINAL REPORT