Pepinelli Lab

Pollinator presence in post-mining environments can signal the successful restoration of key ecological processes. By installing honey bee colonies, malaise traps and collecting eDNA from pollen, and air, we will monitor biodiversity, investigate plant-pollinator interactions, and evaluate the effectiveness of revegetation efforts. The outcomes will provide a replicable, data-driven framework for monitoring ecological restoration, offering mining operations valuable insights to improve reclamation strategies and contribute to long-term sustainability.

The Proposal

Mining activities can significantly affect ecosystems by damaging habitats and resources. Restoration efforts, such as revegetating mining areas, are critical for stabilizing land, reducing erosion, and reintroducing habitats for flora and fauna. Pollinators play a key role in supporting plant reproduction, accelerating ecosystem recovery and sustaining biodiversity.

This project aims to monitor and support biodiversity restoration at mining sites using an integrated approach that combines managed honey bee colonies with environmental DNA (eDNA) technologies. In partnership with IAMGOLD, we are incorporating honey bees into biodiversity monitoring programs to evaluate how pollinators contribute to ecosystem health, biodiversity, and the resilience of ecological networks across both reclaimed and active mining landscapes. By integrating traditional ecological monitoring with eDNA-based approaches, this project will provide a more comprehensive assessment of ecological recovery, identify potential risks to ecosystem services, and generate scientific evidence to guide more effective and sustainable mine reclamation strategies.

Key aspects of the project include:

1. Pollinator Monitoring: Deploy managed honey bee colonies as biological sampling units to monitor pollinator activity and floral resource use across active and reclaimed mining sites. Honey bee foraging patterns will provide insights into the diversity, abundance, and seasonal dynamics of plants and pollinators, serving as indicators of ecosystem recovery.
2. Malaise Trap Monitoring: Establish a network of Malaise traps to continuously sample flying insect communities, including native pollinators and other ecologically important taxa. Specimens will be identified using both morphological and DNA-based approaches to assess species richness, community composition, and temporal changes throughout the reclamation process.
3. Environmental DNA (eDNA) Monitoring: Integrate multiple eDNA sampling approaches to provide a comprehensive assessment of biodiversity. Airborne eDNA collected from honey bee colonies will be used to detect plant, microbial, fungal, and animal communities across the landscape. In parallel, wildflower eDNA will be collected directly from flowers to characterize plant–pollinator interactions by identifying insect DNA deposited during floral visits. Bee-collected pollen will further complement these datasets by revealing floral resource use and surrounding plant diversity. Together, these complementary eDNA approaches will provide a high-resolution, non-invasive picture of ecosystem biodiversity and ecological interactions.
4. Reclamation Success Evaluation: Integrate data from honey bee monitoring, Malaise traps, airborne eDNA, wildflower eDNA, pollen metabarcoding, and habitat assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of mine reclamation practices. Biodiversity metrics will be correlated with reclamation progress and environmental variables to identify indicators of ecological recovery, pollinator network resilience, and ecosystem function.
5. Actionable Insights for Sustainable Mining: Translate scientific findings into practical recommendations for industry partners by identifying reclamation strategies that maximize biodiversity and ecosystem services. The project will deliver science-based monitoring tools and long-term biodiversity indicators to help mining companies improve reclamation outcomes, support regulatory compliance, and strengthen environmental stewardship and sustainability initiatives.

The project uses a non-invasive method of eDNA analysis to assess biodiversity. It will involve deploying honey bee colonies in three areas at Côté Gold mine, with ongoing sampling and analysis. The results will help inform reclamation practices, monitor ecosystem health, and identify potential risks, such as contaminants, to biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Additionally, the project aligns with Laurentian University’s strategic goals, fostering research collaboration and experiential learning, particularly for students. It integrates innovative techniques in environmental science and supports sustainability in post-mining landscapes. Collaboration with IAMGOLD and local Indigenous communities will ensure the research is inclusive and grounded in diverse ecological knowledge.

This two-year project aims to assess the success of reclamation efforts, generate data on species recovery, and develop a replicable monitoring framework for future reclamation projects in the mining sector.