Systems level analysis of honey bee health: from genes to landscapes

Christina Grozinger, Penn State

November 8, 2012 @ 11:00 am to 12:00 pm

203 Millennium Science Complex

Populations of honey bees and other pollinators are in decline globally due to the effects of multiple biotic and abiotic stressors. We are examining the impacts of several of these stressors (pathogens, parasites, and pesticides) on honey bees at the genomic level to determine if they perturb common or distinct pathways, and if these pathways are related to particular physiological functions or social behaviors. Furthermore, we are using molecular approaches to assess the impacts of social environment and social interactions on the immune function and health of individual bees. Finally, we are conducting surveys of populations of subspecies of honey bees in East Africa, to determine if common stressors are associated with honey bee declines in the US, Europe and Africa.

Contact

Timo Smieszek
smieszek@psu.edu