Charlotte B's Senior Project Blog

Project Title: Bee-licious: Do Honeybees Select Protein Rich Pollen Based on Their Seasonal Nutrient Needs? BASIS Advisor: Kristen Sanders Internship Location: Carl Hayden Bee Research Center Onsite Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Corby-Harris

Project Abstract

Nearly one hundred kinds of crops require pollination by honeybees! Honeybees provide us with just under one third of the food we eat, as they are the main pollinators of large-scale crop monocultures such as almond, avocado, potatoes, fruits, and coffee. However, in recent years honeybee colonies have experienced drastic population declines due to a variety of environmental threats including climate change, new pathogens, and pesticide usage. In order to protect honeybees, we must conduct research to better understand their health and nutritional requirements. A balanced diet of pollen and nectar is necessary for honeybees to form healthy colonies capable of withstanding environmental stressors. More precise components of pollen, such as proteins are especially important for honeybees’ growth, development, and reproduction. Honeybees rely on protein to create jelly that feeds developing larvae. In late winter and early spring colonies grow by producing more brood, but in the fall, colonies produce less brood and begin preparing for overwintering. Do honeybees have the ability to differentiate between pollens and collect higher protein pollens according to their seasonal nutrient needs? I hope to answer this question at Carl Hayden Bee Research Center by measuring the protein concentration of pollen collected from each season of a year. Understanding how honeybees change their pollen collection process throughout seasonal cycles will support broader implications about their ability to adapt and survive in the face of ongoing environmental stressors.