What an exciting research project!
Doctoral candidate Alexia "Lexie" Martin of the laboratory of Rachel Vannette, professor and vice chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, has received a Garden Club of America (GSA) Board of Associates Centennial Pollinator Fellowship for her research on the native bees, Osmia.
Her research: "Non-Native Horn-Face Bees (Osmia cornifrons) as Possible Disease Reservoirs for Native Blue Orchard Bees (Osmia lignaria)."
"The shared use of flowers and nesting materials between bee species means that these resources may act as sites of pathogen exchange, which can be detrimental for bee populations," she wrote in her application. "I will investigate the potential for chalkbrood disease to spillover (i.e. move from one bee species to another) between two closely related mason bee species (Osmia lignaria and Osmia cornifrons). To test this, I will cross-infect chalkbrood disease isolated from each species into the other, then measure mortality and sublethal effects. Ultimately, the results of this study will provide important management implications for these economically important pollinators."
For the centennial fellowship--limited only to graduate student applicants--the Garden Club announced it would "provide funding to study the causes of pollinator decline, in particular bees, bats, butterflies, and moths, which could lead to potential solutions for their conservation and sustainability...Funding may vary in amount, but normally will be in the range of $4,000 for study and research that will advance the knowledge of pollinator science and increase the number of scientists in the field. A recipient may reapply for an additional year of funding."
Martin was among 49 recipients, and one of six students at California universities, to receive the centennial fellowship. Other Californians were Christopher Cosma of UC Riverside; Laura Lampe of California State University, Chico; Hamutahl Cohen of UC Santa Cruz, Beth Morrison of Stanford University; and Lauren Poniso of UC Berkeley. (See complete list)
The categories under which applicants could apply:
- Effects of nutrition, genetics, pesticides, pathogens, parasites and disease on pollinators
- Pollinator habitat development, assessment or monitoring
- Plant-pollinator interactions and pollination biology
- Research that examines other aspects of pollinator health, including cutting-edge, original concepts
Martin, who anticipates receiving her doctorate in 2027, is an alumna of the University of Texas, Austin. She holds a bachelor of science degree in biology (concentration in ecology, evolution and behavior), and a bachelor of science and arts in chemistry. Martin has investigated insect-microbe interactions in various insect species, including bumble bees, mason bees, and honey wasps, for eight years. She is broadly interested in the impact of microbes (including bacteria and fungi) on bee health.
Cover image: Osmia lignaria heading for a Phacelia blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)