bumble bee gut bacteria and their responses to stressors
Creating "gnotobiotic" bees for experiments
Bumble bees are major pollinators and rely on specialized, coevolved gut bacteria for nutrition and protection from disease. Given this reliance, I am examining whether environmental stressors--such as agrichemicals, parasites, and warming temperatures--could be harming bumble bees indirectly by interfering with their gut bacteria. To do so, I am using bacterial growth assays in vitro and experiments with lab-raised bumble bees and genetically engineered symbionts. Numerous species of bumble bees are declining, as are many native bees and insects in general. This work may illustrate how microbial symbionts can be a liability for hosts, and hopefully, will inform agricultural and other practices to conserve bumble bee populations.
microbial mutualism in ground-nesting cellophane bees (colletidae)
Crawfordapis luctuosa in Monteverde, Costa Rica
Funded by National Geographic, I recently began a foray into the microbial associates of the Diphaglossinae, also known as fork- and feather-tongued bees. In particular, I am interested in the microbiology of larval provisions of Ptiloglossa, and the potential for microbes to provide nutritional, detoxification, or anti-pathogen functions for solitary bee larvae.
Fieldwork is currently ongoing, so stay tuned for more updates about this project!
Fieldwork is currently ongoing, so stay tuned for more updates about this project!
structure and function of gut MICROBIOMEs in Adult HELICONIINE BUTTERFLIES
Heliconius erato in Gamboa, Panama
In collaboration with Owen McMillan, I am studying the microbial symbionts and parasites of adult passion-vine butterflies (Heliconiini). Heliconius and related genera are a widely studied model system for the evolution and genetic/developmental basis of wing coloration. These butterflies exhibit an amazing variety of mimicry patterns and participate in unique interactions with plants as both caterpillars and adults (see here). I am interested in the microbes inhabiting their guts: who they are, how they get there, what they do, and how they vary across host populations and species.