Scientists and conservation charities join forces to track Spanish bluebell invasion
The Wellcome Genome Campus Public Engagement team has joined forces with the Eden Project and The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire to launch the first ‘Bluebell Barcoding Day’ today (Wednesday 6 April), which will help track the threat to English bluebells from an invasive Spanish variety.
Spanish bluebells, introduced as ornamental plants in gardens, are spreading into wild woodlands. They can cross breed with native species to form a fertile hybrid which threatens the diversity of woodlands by outcompeting English bluebells.
This first ‘Bluebell Barcoding Day’ will take place in woodland at the Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridgeshire. Volunteers will work alongside researchers from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute to use some of the latest genomic technologies to help understand the spread of the Spanish bluebell. They will explore the basics of DNA barcoding, a molecular biology technique used by scientists across the world to identify plant and animal species. This will include taking a very small sample of a bluebell, extracting the DNA and then sending it off for DNA sequencing.
“Bluebells provide one of our finest spring wildlife spectacles. This iconic species is threatened by competition from, and interbreeding with, Spanish bluebells. We are delighted to work with the Genome Campus to explore how we can use genetics to increase our understanding of both species and pinpoint hybrid plants.”
Sian Williams Cambridgeshire Conservation Officer at the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire
The app can be downloaded and used by anyone who wants to take part; all they need is an android phone or iPhone. This offers the potential to build communities to monitor, share and crowd source data on their local bluebell diversity.
“The opportunities and uses of DNA sampling and genomics are expanding at a rapid rate. What was once the work of experts is now something that can be carried out in the field by volunteers. DNA barcoding in particular is enabling us to use citizen science and public collaboration to explore species diversity and find out more about what’s happening in the ‘bluebell battle’, contributing quality data to the broader scientific community.”
Francesca Gale Education officer at the Wellcome Genome Campus Public Engagement team
The Bluebell Barcoding Day is the first of several DNA barcoding events that will be taking place on the Wellcome Genome Campus in 2016.
More information
Instructions on how to download the bluebell survey, collect data and receive a bluebell bookmark with ruler and colour guide can be found here: bit.ly/bluebell2016
(Full web address: https://publicengagement.wellcomegenomecampus.org/page/bluebell-survey-2016)
The public can also get involved on the day through social media using #bluebellsurvey
Selected websites
Wellcome Genome Campus Public Engagement
Wellcome Genome Campus Public Engagement supports dialogue and discussion around the impact of genomics on society by bringing new audiences to the Campus, developing digital resources such as the yourgenome.org website, and promoting genomics education. It aims to share knowledge and encourage debate, engage with new audiences, and build an international network of genomics communicators. It is part of the Courses, Conferences and Public Engagement programme.
Wellcome Genome Campus Courses, Conferences and Public Engagement programme
The Wellcome Genome Campus Courses, Conferences and Public Engagement programme delivers training and engagement focussed around genomics, its applications, and implications. Its vision is to inspire a range of audiences both on the Campus and beyond it, and make the world of genomics open and accessible to all. Wholly funded by the Wellcome Trust, three teams work as a single, joint initiative to offer a wide range of events and activities, collaborating closely with scientists from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and EMBL-EBI.
The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire
The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire works to make our three counties a place where nature matters, where wildlife can flourish and enrich the lives of the people who live here: with your help we care for local wildlife. Ninety five per cent of the local population live within five miles of one of our 126 reserves and contributions of time or money will directly benefit local wildlife
The Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance (CGPS)
CGPS is an initiative between Imperial College London and The Wellcome Genome Campus providing data and tools for the global surveillance of microbial pathogens. EpiCollect+ was developed as a system for generic mobile metadata collection and is widely used in the fields of epidemiology, biodiversity and citizen science. http://www.epicollect.net
The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute is one of the world’s leading genome centres. Through its ability to conduct research at scale, it is able to engage in bold and long-term exploratory projects that are designed to influence and empower medical science globally. Institute research findings, generated through its own research programmes and through its leading role in international consortia, are being used to develop new diagnostics and treatments for human disease.
The Wellcome Trust
The Wellcome Trust is a global charitable foundation dedicated to achieving extraordinary improvements in human and animal health. We support the brightest minds in biomedical research and the medical humanities. Our breadth of support includes public engagement, education and the application of research to improve health. We are independent of both political and commercial interests.
