nformation related to honey bees and other pollinators

Rosanna Mattingly Editor, Western Apicultural Society Journal Editor, The Bee Line, Oregon State Beekeepers Association

Items of potential interest 21 November 2019

IN THIS ISSUE . . .

European beekeeping in crisis

Protecting Native Vegetation On Rural Properties Yields Brazil USD 1.5 Trillion Per Year

A quick tongue: older honey bees dip nectar faster to compensate for mouthpart structure deterioration

Bees and bee pests and diseases

Oldest evidence of insect pollination unearthed

Living Planet: Hope for the honey bee

Bee City USA Begins a New Chapter

SENTINEL APIARY MONTHLY MEMO: NOVEMBER ISSUE

The Assessment Report on Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production

Pollination Service Market – Global Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2019 – 2024

Coalition of the Willing on Pollination Grows – Again!

Pollination of Cretaceous flowers

Power lines may mess with honeybees’ behavior and ability to learn

Nectar—but not for parasites

Native honey bees could hold the secret to pollination inside a green house

Habitat Assessment Guide for Pollinators in Yards, Gardens, and Parks

Stunning Amber Discovery Just Pushed Evidence of Pollination Back 50 Million Years

Trouble in paradise

Giving thanks for cover crops

Pollinator CEU course helps you protect crops, bees

Disrupting One Gene Could Be First Step Toward Treating Honey Bee Parasite Nosema Ceranae

USDA-ARS to add five new research positions including pollination ecologist

FROM CATCH THE BUZZ

FROM ABJ EXTRA

European beekeeping in crisis

ISTVAN NAGY

Europe’s bee population is dying. The number of pollinator species threatened by extinction is increasing each year, and human activity is the main cause.

Those are the alarming findings of a report published by experts of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services (Ipbes), founded by 124 UN member states and based on the findings of hundreds of scientists. Findings of the report, entitled Pollination, pollinators and food production are supported by other researchers as well.

According to Coloss,  . . .

To continue reading: https://euobserver.com/opinion/146608

Protecting Native Vegetation On Rural Properties Yields Brazil USD 1.5 Trillion Per Year

Eurasia Review

The 270 million hectares of native vegetation preserved by rural landowners (Legal Reserves and unprotected areas) yield Brazil the equivalent of some USD 1.5 trillion per year in ecosystem services, such as crop pollination, pest control, water security, rain production and soil quality maintenance.

The calculation is part of a paper published in the journal Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation and endorsed by 407 . . .

To continue reading: https://www.eurasiareview.com/18112019-protecting-native-vegetation-on-rural-properties-yields-brazil-usd-1-5-trillion-per-year/

A quick tongue: older honey bees dip nectar faster to compensate for mouthpart structure deterioration

Jianing Wu et al.

Abstract

The western honey bee, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera), is arguably the most important pollinator worldwide. While feeding, A. mellifera uses a rapid back-and-forth motion with its brush-like mouthparts to probe pools and films of nectar. Because of the physical forces experienced by the mouthparts during the feeding process, we hypothesized . . .

To continue reading: https://jeb.biologists.org/content/222/21/jeb212191

Bees and bee pests and diseases

The Australian honey bee industry is composed of about 13,000 registered beekeepers. Around 1,300 of these are considered to be commercial apiarists, each with more than 50 hives.

The European honey bee contributes directly to the Australian economy with the industry valued at around $100 million per annum with total honey production ranging between 20-25,000 tonnes each year.

Honey bees also contribute to the productivity of many horticultural and seed crops, by providing essential pollination services that improve crop yield and quality. Pollination services have been estimated to contribute between $620 and $1,730 million to the value of Australian agricultural production per annum.

Varroa mite – the major threat to Australia’s honey bee and honey bee crop pollination plant industries

Australia is one of the few countries in the world to remain . . .

To continue reading: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/pests-diseases-weeds/bees

Oldest evidence of insect pollination unearthed

Alice Lipscombe-Southwell

New research by scientists from the USA and China has pushed back the earliest evidence of insect pollination to 99 million years ago, when pterosaurs still soared in the skies.

Since the time of Charles Darwin, it has been thought that insect pollination played a huge role in the explosion of flowering plant diversity that took place during the Cretaceous period (145-66 million years ago).

But while flowering plants and insects were both present at that time, there was little fossil evidence . . .

To continue reading: https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/oldest-evidence-of-insect-pollination-unearthed/

Living Planet: Hope for the honey bee

There’s no denying the vital role of bees and other pollinators in global crop production. But pesticides, habitat loss and climate change pose genuine threats to many of the insects we rely on. In France, beekeepers have seen their honey production fall by 50% since the 1990s. To reverse this trend, a group of scientists have taken a different approach to studying ways we can save the species.

To listen: https://www.dw.com/en/living-planet-hope-for-the-honey-bee/av-51237549

Bee City USA Begins a New Chapter

Scott Hoffman

A nationwide network of nearly two hundred cities and college campuses is working toward the shared goal of protecting pollinators. A decade ago I am not sure anyone would have thought this was possible—except for Bee City USA founder Phyllis Stiles. In 2012 she began with a great concept, tangible ways to engage communities to move this concept forward, and a ton of determination. In the years since, . . .

To continue reading: https://xerces.org/blog/bee-city-usa-begins-new-chapter

SENTINEL APIARY MONTHLY MEMO: NOVEMBER ISSUE

KELLY KULHANEK

That’s a wrap on the 2019 Sentinel Apiary Program! This year was a real record breaker with 106 Sentinel Apiaries in 29 states. Sentinel beekeepers put in blood, sweat, and stings to send in over 2,500 samples from 564 colonies. The data collected from these samples helps participants make data driven management decisions. Mite loads are also shared . . .

To continue reading: https://beeinformed.org/2019/11/18/sentinel-apiary-monthly-memo-november-issue/

The Assessment Report on Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production

Individual chapters and their executive summaries of the thematic assessment on pollinators, pollination and food production

2017_pollination_full_report_book_v12_pages.pdf

Deliverable(s)/Body(ies):

Pollination Assessment

Assessment report:

Assessment Report on Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production

Assessment report categories:

Report

Document symbol sort:

ipbes/assessment/pollination/report

Source: https://ipbes.net/document-library-catalogue/assessment-report-pollinators-pollination-food-production

Pollination Service Market – Global Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2019 – 2024

JOANN WILSON 

The report titled “Global Pollination Service Market 2019 By Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, forecast to 2024” provides an in-depth analysis of the global Pollination Service market with detailed analysis of market size and growth. The Pollination Service analysis contains market by value, market share by product and by region. The report also provides the detailed analysis of the Pollination Service in terms of value globally.

Get a Sample Copy of the Report . . .

To continue reading: https://irvineobserver.com/pollination-service-market-global-market-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2019-2024/51963/

Coalition of the Willing on Pollination Grows – Again!

The Promote Pollinators secretariat published a press statement concerning the sign-up event during CBD COP 14 (which starts this week in Sharm-el-Sheikh) and the other activities they will facilitate. Read the introduction and download the full statement!

‘Following 22 other parties, Belarus, Estonia and Norway have shown their intent to protect pollinating species threatened with extinction. To affirm themselves to this commitment, on 14 November they will sign the Declaration of the Coalition of the Willing on Pollinators. The sign-up event takes place during the fourteenth UN Biodiversity Conference in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt. The European Union will also sign the declaration. The Dutch ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality is instigator and pioneer of the international coalition on the protection of pollinating species, operating as Promote Pollinators.’

The full press statement is available in English and in Dutch.

Download the complete Press Statement (pdf, EN)

Download the complete Press Statement (pdf, NL)

Source: https://ipbes.net/news/coalition-willing-pollination-grows-again

Pollination of Cretaceous flowers

Tong Bao et al.

Since Darwin, insect pollination was thought to be a key contributor to the Cretaceous radiation of angiosperms. Both insects and angiosperms were common during the mid-Cretaceous, but direct evidence for a Cretaceous insect-angiosperm pollination mode was until now absent. Here, we report a specialized beetle-angiosperm pollination mode preserved in Burmese amber where  . . .

To continue reading: https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2019/11/05/1916186116

Power lines may mess with honeybees’ behavior and ability to learn

Rachel Fritts

Power lines could be messing with honeybees by emitting electromagnetic fields that can alter the insects’ behavior and ability to learn.

In the lab, honeybees (Apis mellifera) were more aggressive toward other bees after being exposed to electromagnetic fields, or EMFs, at strengths similar to what they might experience at ground level under electricity transmission lines, researchers report October 10 in PLOS ONE. Those exposed bees also were slower to .  .  .

To continue reading: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/power-lines-may-mess-with-honeybees-learning-behavior?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=latest-newsletter-v2&utm_source=Latest_Headlines&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest_Headlines

Nectar—but not for parasites

Caroline Ash

Bumble bees are vulnerable to parasitism by a flagellated trypanosome (some species of which are important human pathogens). The parasite Crithidia bombi, in combination with environmental stresses, can promote declines in bumble bee populations by reducing foraging and reproductive success. Koch et al. developed a chromatographic pipeline to efficiently search for natural products in single-species honey that might protect pollinators. Of the four most bioactive species the authors found, nectar from Calluna vulgaris, an iconic moorland plant in the United Kingdom, contains a compound called callunene, which promotes flagella shedding by the parasite, eliminating its ability to attach to the bumble bees’ gut epithelial cells and cause infection. If bees ingest C. vulgaris nectar in high amounts, they are protected from infection, but if they are already infected, there is no curative effect.

Curr. Biol. 29, 3494 (2019).

Source: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/366/6467/834.3?utm_campaign=ec_sci_2019-11-14&et_rid=79887736&et_cid=3074055

Native honey bees could hold the secret to pollination inside a green house

Researchers are hopeful native sting-less bees could prove to be an effective pollinator in glass houses.

Early results of trials have found the pollinators native to Australia proved to be far more effective when pollinating strawberry crops.

Rural reporter Eddie Summerfield caught up with Hort Innovation’s Pollination Research Manager Ashley Zamek . . .

To listen to podcast: https://www.2gb.com/podcast/native-honey-bees-could-hold-the-secret-to-pollination-inside-a-green-house/

Habitat Assessment Guide for Pollinators in Yards, Gardens, and Parks

Landscaping for pollinators is one of the easiest ways for urban, suburban, and rural residents to directly benefit local wildlife. Schoolyards, community gardens, back yards, corporate campuses, rain gardens, and neighborhood parks all have the potential to meet the most basic needs of pollinators, including protection from pesticides, and resources for foraging, nesting, and overwintering.

The goal of this tool is to evaluate pollinator habitat at a given site, and identify areas for improvement. This process will also help you prioritize the most essential next steps to take for pollinators at the site.

To download: https://xerces.org/publications/habitat-assessment-guides/habitat-assessment-guide-for-pollinators-in-yards-gardens

Stunning Amber Discovery Just Pushed Evidence of Pollination Back 50 Million Years

MICHELLE STARR

A beautifully preserved insect in amber is giving us new insight into the reproductive life of plants from 99 million years ago. The ancient beetle died with its legs coated in pollen, and its remains have now pushed back physical evidence of insect pollination by at least . . .

To continue reading: https://www.sciencealert.com/insects-were-already-pollinating-plants-99-million-years-ago-new-fossil-shows

Trouble in paradise

Heather Swan

The Pollinators, a new movie distributed by Demand Films (a company that allows people to request screenings in their communities), follows industrial beekeepers as they take honeybees across the country for pollination services. Director Peter Nelson has created a visual feast, interspersing beautiful closeup images of honeybees with shots of beekeepers driving forklifts full of beehives as they move bees from semi-truck trailer to field, over and over again. The film gives viewers an intimate look at the people and the insects responsible for pollinating the biggest crops in our nation.

Every year . . .

To continue reading: https://isthmus.com/screens/movies/the-pollinators-shows-the-devastating-impact-of-modern-agriculture/

Giving thanks for cover crops

MARION CO., Ore. — As we count our blessings during the lead-up to Thanksgiving, cover crops are something that should be on every agricultural producer’s and consumer’s list. Here are a few of the reasons why:

Soil health regeneration

This is the foundation to many of the benefits attributed to cover crops, and one of the things we are most thankful for. Starting above ground, the biomass will . . .

To continue reading: https://www.morningagclips.com/giving-thanks-for-cover-crops/

Pollinator CEU course helps you protect crops, bees

This continuing educator course, developed with the Almond Board, The University of California, Davis entomologist and commercial beekeepers is designed to help producers maximize yields and protect honey bees.

Information: https://www.farmprogress.com/tree-nuts/pollinator-ceu-course-helps-you-protect-crops-bees

Disrupting One Gene Could Be First Step Toward Treating Honey Bee Parasite Nosema Ceranae

Kim Kaplan

BELTSVILLE, MARYLAND, June 20, 2019—Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have taken the first step towards a weapon against the major honey bee parasite Nosema ceranae.

There is currently no treatment for this parasite.

The scientists found that feeding honey bees a small amount of an interfering RNA compound (RNAi) could disrupt the reproduction of N. cerana by as much as 90 percent in the laboratory study, according to a study recently published in Insect Molecular Biology.

This RNAi compound targets a single . . .

To continue reading: https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2019/disrupting-one-gene-could-be-first-step-toward-treating-honey-bee-parasite-nosema-ceranae/

USDA-ARS to add five new research positions including pollination ecologist Renée Jean

A soil microbiologist and a pollination expert are among several new positions that the USDA-ARS unit in Sidney is in the process of hiring now that a hiring freeze appears to have melted away.

Bart Stevens, who directs the ag systems research group for the USDA-ARS laboratory in Sidney, talked about . . .

To continue reading: https://www.willistonherald.com/news/farm_and_ranch/usda-ars-to-add-five-new-research-positions-including-pollination/article_2431725c-ff6e-11e9-976c-b706420aa54b.htmlFROM CATCH THE BUZZ:

  1. Beescape – Get a Bees Eye View of Your Landscape.

Dear Bee Enthusiast, Greetings from the Beescape Team! We are writing to inform you about the “Beescape” bee management and conservation platform. You can… Read on » 2. 2018 Irrigation and Water Management Data now Available!

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2019 – There were 231,474 farms with 55.9 million irrigated acres, which included 83.4 million acre-feet of water applied in the… Read on » 3. Researchers Have Analyzed How Paralysis Virus Hijacks the Cellular Protein Production Machinery and Misuses It for Its Own Purposes

The Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus is a pathogen that affects honey bees and has been linked to Colony Collapse Disorder, a key factor in… Read on » 4. Are Neonicotinoid Seed Treatments Critical for Protecting Crops—or Unnecessary, with Potential to Harm Bees?

By: Paul McDivitt Neonicotinoids, the world’s most popular class of insecticides, have been making headlines for the last decade due to concerns that they negatively… Read on » 5. Grimshaw Beekeeping Family Awarded 2019 BMO Farm Family Award.

Emma Mason, Staff The Mighty Peace Honey farm in Grimshaw (Supplied by Andrew Dickson) A family of beekeepers in Grimshaw are one of 13… Read on » 6. Australian Honey Abuzz With High-Value Antibacterial Activity, and, Cypriot Honey Best in the World.

By: University of Technology – Sydney Australia has at least seven Leptospermum species that produce honey with exceptionally high levels of antibacterial activity, providing… Read on » 7. Listen In On The Most Unique, Fantastic Research Projects We’ve Heard On Varroa Control. You Won’t Believe It!

From www.Beekeepingtodaypodcast.com. Listen in on this. Joining this episode is a team representing one of the 18 finalist in the Empire State Development and… Read on » 8. Recent Study Demonstrates Math Skills of Honey Bees, and, Maybe, CCD Effects on Commercial Bees are ‘Very Small’.

A recent study at RMIT University, Australia, led by Scarlett Howard and Adrian Dyer, has demonstrated the ability of honey bees to distinguish between… Read on »FROM ABJ EXTRA:

  1. The Bee Informed Partnership could use your support! Non-profit seeks donations to support its work on behalf of the nation’s beekeepers/ To read: https://mailchi.mp/dadant.com/abj-extra-november-18-2019-the-bee-informed-partnership-could-use-your-support?e=d476a0d684

FROM POLLINATOR-L:

Assistant Professor/Associate Professor of Arthropod Vector Biology and/or Ecology 

The Department of Entomology at Penn State invites applications for an Assistant Professor/Associate Professor in the area of Arthropod Vector Biology and/or Ecology with a focus on the field ecology of vectors and their role in disease transmission. This is a ninemonth tenure track position with a 75% research and 25% teaching appointment. Expertise that will complement existing departmental strengths in Epidemiology, IPM, chemical ecology, vector biology, genomics or disease ecology is desired. Penn State has a large concentration of faculty interested in public health and in developing innovative solutions for infectious diseases using transdisciplinary approaches. Candidates willing to integrate across traditional disciplines to design and implement effective vector interventions are especially welcome. The successful candidate will be expected to conduct empirical or theoretical research focused on the ecology and biology of mosquitoes, ticks, and/or other arthropod vectors of human infectious disease with focus on those relevant to the United States.

The successful applicant is expected to establish a strong externally funded research program, conduct independent high-quality research, publish in leading scholarly journals, and mentor graduate students. Expectation of contributing to Introductory Entomology and developing both resident and online courses and materials for arthropods that affect people. The ability to engage a diverse population of faculty, staff, and students at the Departmental, College, and University levels is an important aspect of this academic appointment.

This position requires a Ph.D. in entomology, ecology, or related sciences with demonstrated accomplishments in research relevant to arthropod vectors. The successful candidate must have completed all degree requirements by the appointment date. Candidates from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. An excellent benefits package is provided. State College is a vibrant college town with excellent public schools, affordable housing, an outdoor lifestyle and easy access to nearby big cities including Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and New York.

A complete application includes the following: a letter of application, names and addresses of three professional references, a curriculum vitae and statement of research and teaching interests. For further information, contact Elizabeth McGraw, Search Committee Chair (eam7@psu.edu).

Apply at https://psu.jobs/job/91976

 

———

Assistant Professor Faculty Position in Invertebrate Biology at University of North Texas

The Department of Biological Sciences at University of North Texas invites applications for a faculty position in Invertebrate Biology.  We seek candidates with a research focus in invertebrate biology, which can include but is not limited to research in development, physiology, genetics, toxicology, or environmental interactions, using invertebrate systems.

Qualifications: The successful candidate will have 1) earned a doctoral degree in Biological Sciences or related field, 2) demonstrates the ability and plans to obtain extramural funding, 3) a growing record of scholarship and publication in higher tier journals appropriate to the applicants’ field of study, and 4) demonstrates the potential for excellence in undergraduate and graduate teaching. Preference will be given to applicants having postdoctoral or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities: The successful candidates will be expected to obtain funding to support a vibrant research program in the candidates’ discipline and engage in undergraduate and graduate education by teaching courses in their area of expertise. Each candidate is also expected to participate in relevant regional, national, and international research communities within their discipline.

Salary: Salary and start-up package are competitive.

Eligibility: Employment is contingent upon proof of eligibility to work in the United States and outcome of record checks and verifications including criminal history, education records, employment, and references.

Starting Date: August 2020

Deadline: Completed applications will be reviewed starting December 2, 2019, and will continue until the search is closed.

Application Procedures: Applicants must apply online at http://facultyjobs.unt.edu (System Identification number 6002466) and attach the following items: 1) cover letter, 2) Curriculum Vitae, 3) research statement (≤ 3 pages), 4) statement of teaching philosophy (≤ 2 pages), 5) at least one and up to three relevant publication(s) that highlight the applicant’s contribution in the field, and 6) contact information for three individuals willing to serve as references that are familiar with the applicant’s academic and research qualifications.

General Information: UNT is a public research university with a Research 1 (R1) Carnegie classification enrolling over 39,000 students, offering a total of 101 bachelor’s degrees, 82 master’s degrees, and 38 doctoral degrees.  Biological Sciences is a comprehensive department with over 40 faculty organized among three divisions (Ecology / Environmental Science, Physiology, and Biochemistry / Molecular Biology).  We offer degrees in each area of concentration through the Ph.D. and have approximately 2,900 undergraduate majors and over 200 graduate students. Additional information concerning UNT and the Department of Biological Sciences can be found at http://www.unt.edu and http://biology.unt.edu.

The main UNT campus is located in the city of Denton, a vibrant and growing community of approximately 120,000 residents located 40 miles north of downtown Dallas and Fort Worth and 27 miles north of DFW International Airport.  For more information about Denton, please visit https://www.cityofdenton.com and https://www.discoverdenton.com.

The University of North Texas System and its component institutions are committed to equal opportunity and comply with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University of North Texas System and its component institutions do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its application and admission processes, educational programs and activities, and employment practices.

Inquiries regarding the advertised positions may be directed to the search committee chair: Dr. Edward Dzialowski (Ed.Dzialowski@unt.edu).

———

 

*Wild Bee Behavioural Genomics and Molecular Ecology Positions (1 postdoc + 1 graduate student)*

The Rehan Lab (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.rehanlab.com&d=DwIBaQ&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=gN8xkOGSjoEM2AqCdrXFbM59pF4mK2PquEEidp7qVG0&m=e3Kuf18lsJSMQ44qgNKiBvQKHWH0xeczL6zZd3f1zI8&s=VTLpRyvIT6azjsXat37lAiKJJ0B_Ze0r_OX9lS4N2B0&e= ) is hiring 2 positions to study behavioural genomics and molecular ecology of wild bees. The Rehan lab is a collaborative group of researchers, staff, and students focusing on bee behaviour, ecology and evolution. We are located at York University in Toronto, Canada. The candidates will join a vibrant team of integrative biologists passionate about all things bee.

*Behavioural Genomics Position*

This position will examine nutritional ecology of wild bees to determine

pollen preference and nutritional requirements of native pollinators. There

is increasing evidence that bee health is mediated not only by the

quantity, but also quality of food provided during development. This

researcher will conduct field and lab experiments to determine optimal

diets for bee nutrition and pollinator health. We are also interested in

the effects of maternally provisioned diet and mother-offspring

interactions on social behaviour. We encourage the candidate to develop

research projects on the social evolution and behavioural genomics of wild

bees.

 

The successful candidate will have skills in a relevant area, and a strong

background in behavioural ecology and evolution. Analytical and writing

skills as well as familiarity with transcriptomic and genomic data is

highly desirable.

 

*Molecular Ecology and Population Genomics Position *

This position will develop genomic reference material and environmental

samples for the wild bees across eastern North America. We have a rich

database of existing material and are actively working to develop robust

dataset for wild bees in the northeast as well as understanding habitat

requirements and floral hosts using a mix of metabarcoding, phylogenomics,

historic reference data and ongoing field surveillance. This researcher

will help manage a field crew, analyze complex genomic and ecological data,

write manuscripts and and engage in public outreach and educate events

across Toronto.

 

The successful candidate will have skills in a relevant area, and a strong

background in molecular ecology and population genetics. Analytical and

writing skills as well as familiarity with genomic data and bioinformatics

is highly desirable.

 

York University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages

applications from women and underrepresented groups. If interested, please

send a CV, names of three references, and a short statement of interests to

Sandra Rehan sanrehan@yorku.ca by December 6, 2019. Graduate students are

encouraged to apply by January 2020 for Fall 2020 admission considerations.

A Postdoctoral Fellowship position is available for one year (starting

January 2020) and renewable up to three years with successful progress and

performance.

 

———

 

Graduate Students

The Couvillon Lab and the O’Rourke Lab, both at Virginia Tech, seek 2 (1 Ph.D., 1 M.S./Ph.D.) highly motivated students with a keen interest in pollinator health & native bee abundance and diversity to join our research groups. Students will begin in Fall 2020 or Winter 2021.

The Ph.D. student will be under the main supervision of Dr. Margaret Couvillon, Assistant Professor of Pollinator Biology and Ecology in the Department of Entomology, and co-advised by Dr. Megan O’Rourke, Associate Professor in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences. The M.S./Ph.D. student will be under the main supervision of Dr. O’Rourke and co-advised by Dr. Couvillon.

Available positions: One Ph.D. (4 years) and one M.S./Ph.D. (2 or 4 years) positions studying the survival, fitness, and performance of native and wild bees and pollinator communities and their abundance and diversity across different landscapes. Students should have a keen interest in native bee abundance and diversity and pollinator health in general.

* Expertise and/or interest in bee taxonomy and identification would be extremely helpful.

Application deadline: 1 December, 2019, with video interviews in January 2020 and a decision in early February 2020.

Start date: Preferably Fall 2020 for Ph.D. student and Winter 2021 for M.S. student, but this is open to some negotiation.

Background: Lack of forage is a factor contributing to bee declines. This stressor can act directly, where hungry bees are unable to meet their nutritional needs, or indirectly, where the resulting nutritional stress reduces the bees’ ability to cope with other stressors like diseases and pesticides. Media coverage has been wide, and as a consequence, everyone wants to feed hungry bees. Such help is offered with best intentions, but efficacy is undermined by two crucial knowledge gaps: firstly, we do not fully understand the foraging dynamics of bees across diverse landscapes because the current methods of surveying, cataloging, and comparing floral abundance at a landscape-scale is intensely time-consuming. Secondly, nutritional stress is often studied either in honey bees (Apis mellifera spp.) or non-honey bees, creating a dichotomy that limits the usefulness of resulting recommendations. Thus, there is a critical need to develop new methods to survey forage on a landscape scale and whether a good landscape for feeding one type of bee is also a good landscape for feeding other bees. Only with such data may we implement a best management strategy for improving food availability to benefit overall pollinator health in a meaningful, targeted way.

These new studentships are part of a larger, 5 year ongoing project funded by FFAR (Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research), with Lead PI Couvillon and co-PIs O’Rourke, Taylor, and Schurch, all at Virginia Tech.

Potential applied and basic science projects may include these questions:

– What landscape characteristics are most associated with overall pollinator health?

– How does pollinator community diversity and abundance vary with landscapes?

– How does stressor exposure, such as to pesticides, affect abundance, diversity, and health of non-Apis bees?

– What plant communities are associated with landscapes that support diverse and abundant pollinator communities?

– How do honey bee foraging dynamics, as determined by previous work, relate to the abundance, diversity, and health of non-Apis bees? In other words, are honey bees good bioindicators for native and wild bee pollinators?

M.S. requirements:

– BS in Biology, Entomology, Landscape Ecology or related STEM field

– Fulfillment of requirements set out by the Department of Entomology at Virginia Tech and The School of Plant and Environmental Sciences

– An excitement for working with live, whole organisms (that sting!)

– A willingness to learn new skills, such as experimental design, scientific reproducibility, statistics, GIS, and insect identification

– Proficiency in English and excellent verbal and written communication skills

– A collaborative, helpful, team-oriented spirit

 

Additional Ph.D. requirements:

– An MS in Biology, Entomology, Landscape Ecology, or related STEM field or significant research experience, preferably with peer reviewed publications.

– Fulfillment of requirements set out by the Department of Entomology at Virginia Tech and The School of Plant and Environmental Sciences

– If you are from an international location where English is not your first language, you will be required to take the TOEFL (see Graduate School requirements)

 

Please note that the selected candidates for the positions must then apply and be accepted into the Graduate School at Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech is an equal opportunity employer.

 

We offer:

– A funded position (Ph.D. or M.S./Ph.D) working with economically vital and scientifically fascinating insects. The Ph.D. student will be supported at Step 12, whereas the M.S. student will be supported at Step 10.

– Training as a well-rounded, critically-thinking scientist

– Exciting combination of field studies and experiments with freely flying and behaving bees; new methods in video and landscape analysis with ArcGIS; opportunities to learn experimental design, scientific reproducibility, and statistical modelling

– Regular collaborations with other research teams in the department, university, and within the larger field

– A Departmental instructional program offering a variety of basic and applied courses

Application:

Please email your application to both Dr. Couvillon and Dr. O’Rourke as a single pdf attachment. Application should include a cover letter (1-2 pages) introducing yourself and describing your background and research interests, a CV (please include your undergraduate and/or graduate GPA, as these are requirements for entrance into the graduate school), GRE scores (if available – note that Entomology does not require GRES), and the contact information for two potential academic references before 1 December, 2019. Please remember to indicate which position interests you. A short list of candidates will be invited to interview over Skype in January 2020, and selection should occur by February 2020.

For more details on the research and our lab, please see www.freelyflyingbees.com or contact Dr. Maggie Couvillon (mjc@vt.edu)  or Dr. Megan O’Rourke (megorust@vt.edu) directly. You may also “Join” our Facebook page The BeeGroup @ VT.

Dr. Margaret J. Couvillon

Assistant Professor of Pollinator Biology & Ecology

Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech

Office phone:540-231-5707

Google scholar page: https://goo.gl/I36PB0

Visit our lab’s website: www.freelyflyingbees.com/