Thinina Hettiarachchi, collecting data on bees and other pollinating insects living in the Shilo RTA. (Photo: Sherry Punak-Murphy, Base Biologist | Environment Office)

Lori Truscott, Shilo Public Affairs
Shilo Stag Media

CFB Shilo Environment Section Aids Academics Again

The CFB Shilo Range and Training Area (RTA) has been a focus of academic study this summer. The Shilo Environment section worked with several research teams who were busy collecting data on some of the flora and fauna found here.

PhD student, Thinina Hettiarachchi, collected insects in August in pursuit of determining the genetic diversity of pollinating insects in Manitoba. The “Bee Study” is led by Dr. Jason Gibbs of the University of Manitoba.

This data will also be shared with the vast Genome Canada led study, Grassland Genomics for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation, (hyperlink to previous story Pretty Prairie) conducted throughout Saskatchewan and Manitoba, including CFB Shilo.

The information is also used by the Shilo staff to enlarge their knowledge of what species call the RTA home. It all becomes part of the overall RTA management plan that ensures good stewardship of the range while enabling military training.