Student Poster Display
Physiology, Biochemistry, and Toxicology
Student
Student Competition
Laverne Ambrister
Central State University
Wilberforce, Ohio
Kritan Major
Central State University
Wilberfore, Ohio
Danielle Kroh
Central State University
Wilberforce, Ohio
Hongmei Li-Byarlay
Associate Professor
Central State University
Wilberforce, Ohio
Bees are integral to pollination processes, with flight being a fundamental aspect of their behavior affecting foraging efficiency and colony productivity. The genetics and breeding program at Central State university has developed a line of bees with high grooming behavior in resistance to Varroa mites. However, the influence of grooming behavior on flight dynamics remains poorly understood, presenting a gap in our knowledge of bee ecology and behavior. Addressing this gap can provide valuable insights into the adaptive strategies of bees and their implications for ecosystem functioning. Is there any difference in the flight abilities of bees in comparison to high grooming and low grooming bees?
We hypothesize that high grooming and mite-biting bees will demonstrate better flight performance than the low grooming bees. We will measure the flight distance, velocity time and other related parameters to characterize the flight ability. We plan to test at least 20-25 forgers from either high grooming or low grooming colonies, at least three colonies from each category will be tested. We anticipate that high grooming mite-biting bees will exhibit enhanced flight abilities, indicating a potential link between biting behavior and flight dynamics in bees. These findings may have implications for pollination ecology, as differences in flight performance could influence the efficiency of bee-mediated pollination services. This research can inform conservation efforts aimed at supporting diverse bee populations and maintaining the integrity of pollination networks in natural and agricultural ecosystems.