Fine-scale variation in pollen availability influences Bombus terrestris colony behaviour, development and fitness
Summary
preprint
About
My research focuses on the ecology, evolution, and conservation of social bees. I am particularly interested in bee behaviour and the mechanisms underpinning intra- and interspecific plant-pollinator communication. During my PhD, I discovered a novel behaviour in bumblebees and explored its significance and implications for bumble bee colonies and bee-plant interactions. I used laboratory, semi-natural and behavioural experiments to show how Bombus terrestris workers use their mouthparts to routinely damage plant leaves. I have investigated the triggers for this behaviour and its effect on flowering time using a variety of assays. During my PostDoc, I have investigated the ecological relevance of this behaviour, by examining fitness implications of food scarcity, as well as the behavioural preferences of bees in natural experiments. In my future work, I plan to work increasingly in natural settings, investigating the effects of floral resource availability on the behaviour, resource use and reproduction of bumble bees in human-modified landscapes. I am passionate about open science, science communication and collaborating with researchers from diverse disciplines and backgrounds.
Work
ETH Zurich
|Postdoctoral Researcher
Switzerland
→
ETH Zurich
|PhD researcher
Switzerland
→
Education
ETH Zurich
Switzerland
→
PhD
Imperial College London
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
→
MSc in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation
University of Oxford
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
→
Biological Sciences
Publications
Honeybees collect pollen from the buzz-pollinated flowers of invasive Solanum elaeagnifolium in Northern Greece
Summary
preprint
Bumble bee leaf damaging behaviour: effects on flowering time and implications for ecology and evolution
Published by
PhD Dissertation, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich
Summary
dissertation-thesis
Bumble bees damage plant leaves and accelerate flower production when pollen is scarce
Published by
Science
Summary
journal-article
Recovery Dynamics of Bees and Syrphid Flies to Restorative Land-use Transitions
Published by
MSc Thesis, Department of Life Sciences, Silwood Park, Imperial College London
Summary
dissertation-thesis