BeeWalk dataset 2008-22

DESCRIPTIONFocussed on bees in the genus Bombus (bumblebees) and Apis (honeybees), with occasional records of other bee species. No particular intentional bias in habitats surveyed.GEOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONThe BeeWalk survey covers Great Britain (but not Northern Ireland). Recording effort is biased towards Somerset, South Wales and the Scottish central belt as a result of publicity pushes, but East Anglia, Cornwall, north/mid Wales and north-west Scotland are somewhat under-represented in the dataset. Records within this dataset are generally collected at 100m resolution.PURPOSERecords were collected with the aim of better understanding the abundance and distribution of British bumblebee species, and creating an index of abundance in the same way as has been done for butterflies with the UKBMS dataset.DATA QUALITYData are collected by volunteers whose identification abilities will vary. Frequent bumblebee ID training courses are provided for volunteers, identification resources are provided on the project website, and the category 'indeterminate bumblebee' is provided as a catch-all for bees where the identification is uncertain. Trials carried out as part of the NPPMF project have found that volunteer's error rate using the BeeWalk methodology is not significantly different to that of an expert. Photographs and/or specimens are not required for each sighting, but unusual sightings (rare or difficult-to-identify species) are checked by referral to the recorder unless they are known to be experts. The dataset has been validated and verified using the NBN Record Cleaner, and as a consequence some erroneous grid references have been corrected and records outside their range have been checked and confirmed by an expert after referral to the original recorder, or downgraded to 'indeterminate bumblebee' where no evidence could be provided. The cryptic Bombus lucorum complex are treated as B. lucorum sensu lato, and only queens and males of B. terrestris & B. lucorum (sl) are recorded to species (indistinguishable workers are treated as the aggregate species terrestris/lucorum).METHODSVolunteers walk a set transect on a monthly basis between March and October (inclusive), recording all bumblebees seen within a 4m x 4m 2m 'recording box' in front of the recorder (see www.beewalk.org.uk for full details). Photographs are not submitted in support of all records, but netting and photographing bumblebees to help ID is encouraged. BBCT also run a series of ID training events aimed at BeeWalkers to upskill volunteers. Records submitted are validated and their distribution verified using the NBN Record Cleaner with verification rules from the Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society. Records which fail verification or validation checks are referred back to recorders for further evidence.

### 数据集概况
本数据集聚焦于熊蜂属（*Bombus*，即熊蜂）与蜜蜂属（*Apis*，即蜜蜂）类群，同时包含少量其他蜂类物种的记录。调查过程未对生境设置刻意倾向性筛选。

### 地理范围说明
BeeWalk调查覆盖大不列颠地区（不含北爱尔兰）。受宣传推广活动影响，调查采样量偏向萨默塞特郡、南威尔士及苏格兰中部地带，但东安格利亚、康沃尔、威尔士北部/中部以及苏格兰西北部在数据集中的占比相对偏低。本数据集内的记录通常以100米分辨率采集。

### 研究目的
本数据集的采集旨在深入了解英国本土熊蜂物种的种群丰度与分布格局，并参照英国蝴蝶监测数据集（UKBMS）的标准方法构建熊蜂种群丰度指数。

### 数据质量说明
本数据集由志愿者采集，志愿者的物种鉴定能力存在差异。项目方为志愿者提供高频次的熊蜂鉴定培训课程，并在项目官网发布鉴定参考资料；同时设置"未定名熊蜂"分类项，作为鉴定结果存疑个体的兜底类别。作为NPPMF项目组成部分开展的对照试验表明，采用BeeWalk调查方法的志愿者的鉴定错误率与专业分类学家无显著差异。单次观测无需强制提交照片或标本，但特殊观测记录（稀有物种或难以鉴定的物种）需提交给记录员复核，除非提交者为专业分类学家。本数据集已通过英国国家生物多样性网络记录清理工具（NBN Record Cleaner）完成有效性验证与审核：部分错误的网格坐标已得到修正，超出物种自然分布范围的记录会转交给原始记录员并经专家复核确认，若无法提供有效佐证，则将其降级归类为"未定名熊蜂"。对于隐存的*Bombus lucorum*复合群，本数据集统一按广义*B. lucorum*（s.l.）处理；仅当个体为*B. terrestris*与广义*B. lucorum*的蜂王及雄蜂时，才会记录到物种水平，二者无法区分的工蜂则被归类为复合群物种*terrestris/lucorum*。

### 调查方法
志愿者于每年3月至10月（含首尾月份）每月沿固定样带开展调查，记录调查者前方4米×4米×2米的"调查样箱"范围内所见的所有熊蜂个体（详细规则请参见www.beewalk.org.uk）。并非所有观测记录都需要附带照片，但项目鼓励通过网捕或拍摄熊蜂个体以辅助鉴定。BBCT（蜂类、胡蜂与蚂蚁记录协会，Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society）也为BeeWalk参与者举办多场鉴定培训活动，以提升志愿者的鉴定能力。提交的记录将通过英国国家生物多样性网络记录清理工具（NBN Record Cleaner），并参照BBCT的审核规则进行有效性验证与分布范围核查。未通过验证或审核的记录将被退回给原始记录员，要求补充佐证材料。