Research
Honey bee feeding on an artificial feeder with sugar water
Honey bees are incredibly important for the successful pollination of many crops. They’re responsible for pollinating about one-third of the US crop species, including almonds, apples, and cantaloupe. It’s been estimated that the services they provide as pollinators adds up to about $15 billion annually!
Unfortunately, there are many pests, diseases, and other stressors that honey bees are challenged with. Some stressors, like Varroa mites and Nosema infection, have been an issue for decades. Others are relatively more recent, such as pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids.
My work as a graduate student at the University of California, San Diego, focused on how these neonicotinoids, particularly imidacloprid, affected honey bee foraging behavior and communication. This work was advised by Dr. James Nieh
When I graduated with my MS in Biology, I spent a few months at a university in Thailand under the supervision of Dr. Guntima Suwannapong. Working alongside her PhD students, I had the opportunity to explore other areas of research outside of honey bee behavior and pesticides. Their research included looking at how propolis, a natural antiseptic collected from resin sources by honey bees, affects the infectivity of the (recently discovered species) disease caused by Nosema ceranae.
Healthy cross section of honey bee digestive system (midgut). Photo: G.Suwannapong
Nosema spores (stained dark blue) infecting the digestive system (midgut), destroying cells. Photo: G.Suwannapong
After my time in Thailand, I became certain that I would like to continue doing research, focused on honey bee health. In particular, I am interested in:
- The interaction of multiple stressors (pests, diseases, pesticides, etc.) on individual honey bee behavior
- How such behavioral changes in honey bees affect colony efficiency
- The use of probiotics or plant and honey bee-derived compounds to reduce or resolve stressors affecting honey bees
The topic of colony collapse disorder and pollinator declines has received much attention from the media. I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to discuss the science behind the issue to a few reporters in San Diego.
- Friday, January 28, 2011. VKPBS. Another Pesticide Link To Vanishing Honeybees
- Monday, October 11, 2010. Voice of San Diego. An Answer to the Mysterious Honeybee Die-Off
- July 26, 2010. KPBS. UCSD Scientists Researching Vanishing Honey Bees:Pesticide May Play Role In Colony Collapse Disorder
- November 8, 2009. Voice of San Diego. Trying to Diagnose the Disappearing Bees
- May 11, 2009. UCSD GuardianLost in Translation.
- April 7, 2009. MySDScience.com. Bee Curiosities: A trip to a bee lab
