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Student 10-Minute Presentation

Plant-Insect Ecosystems

Student

Student Competition

Undergrad 10-min Competition: P-IE, Behavior, Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Conservation

An exploratory analysis of gene expression stressors in the behavioral & physiological mechanisms of Apis mellifera foragers

Monday, November 11, 2024
10:42 AM – 10:54 AM MST
Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 226 C, PCC
Oral Presentation Student Competition
Apis mellifera, the European honeybee, is an introduced yet impactful bee species within North America. Pollinating a high percentage of agricultural crops and native plants, their coexistence with humans is imperative. As highly eusocial insects, their behavioral and physiological characteristics are essential to the well being of their colonies, and disruptions to their environments can be detrimental. In nutritionally homogenous environments, foragers may become nutritionally stressed due to lack of macronutrient variety. The objective of this study is to identify which genes respond to differences in micronutrient availability and may in turn inform foraging decisions based on nutritional context. In this study we utilized publically available RNASeq data to compare gene expression profiles of foragers exposed to differing diets.  This analysis can provide insight into how foraging honey bees are affected by environmental stressors that directly impact their behavior and ultimately their ability to be effective pollinators.