Progress 08/15/12 to 08/14/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Target audience: For this project, I have two target audiences. The first is the beekeepers and the second is the scientific community. During the first year, I focused on the beekeepers and local community but shifted the focus in the second year to the scientific community. I presented at the National Entomological Society of America (ESA) Meeting in Austin, TX (November 2013) and at the American Bee Research Conference (ABRC) in San Antonio, TX (January 2014). I was co-author on two posters presented at the ABRC by undergraduates who were working on the project and co-author on two additional talks given by an undergraduate (Eastern Branch ESA in Williamsburg, March 2014 and the Southern Appalachian Honey Bee Research Consortium, April 2014). I was also a co-author on a poster at National ESA (November 2014) on a related honey bee project. Efforts: I was the editor of the Virginia Pest Management Guide for the "Protecting Honey Bees" sections dealing with pesticides and honey bees. I also published two extension documents for the beekeeping community. The first one was for the Virginia State Beekeepers Association Fall 2013 Newsletter which is distributed to beekeepers across Virginia. The article was intended to update the Virginia Beekeepers about the project. The second was an extension bulletin published through the Virginia Cooperative Extension Website accessible to anyone who has internet and can be found at http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/ENTO/ENTO-66/ENTO-66.html. Abstracts from the three presentations at the ABRC were also published in beekeeping trade journals - the American Bee Journal and the Kelley Beekeeping Newsletter. The titles of the abstracts were "Nosema ceranae Levels and Immune Responses in Bees Following Hive Treatment with Different Pesticides", "Nutrient Levels in Individual Bees Following Colony Exposure to Different Pesticides", and "Virus Prevalence in Honey Bees Following Colony Treatment with Chlorothalonil, Fumagillin, and tau-Fluvalinate". Changes/Problems: My statistician collaborator had unexpected medical issues that required attention. Due to the situation, we are behind in the statistical analysis of our data which has delayed submission of manuscripts. Statistical analyses should be completed at the end of July 2014. We had hoped to submit manuscripts by July 2014. Instead we anticipate submission of manusripts in September 2014. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Training activities: I was able to create and be the instructor of a new graduate course titled Molecular Methods in Entomology (Fall 2013). The course served as an introduction for students who lack molecular biology experience but have a project with a molecular aspect. I continued supervising two undergraduate research projects. The work on their projects was very successful and I had them present their findings at various conferences (ABRC, ESA, SAHBRC). One of the students was accepted into a graduate program in education and the other student will be applying for graduate school in the fall. I had the opportunity to become involved in a high school program called Authentic Science Research (ASR) and act as a mentor to a junior high school student. The ASR is a 3 year program where students start as sophomores and read widely in scientific literature and then pick a focus area. The students progress rapidly to reading peer-reviewed journal articles and communicating with researchers. In the student's junior year, the student develops their own research project under the guidance of a researcher/mentor. The student spent several weeks with me in the laboratory and the field gaining research experience. The student will present data from this summer at state and regional science fairs. I was able to gain more grant writing experience by submitting and receiving a new grant to help fund this project (Traver, B.E., Fell, R.D., and Anderson, T.D. Evaluating the Effects of Pesticide Exposure on Pathogen Levels and Honey Bee Colony Health. Virginia Agricultural Council (PI, $22,244) 2013-2014). I continued giving presentations at scientific meetings. I presented at the Society for Invertebrate Pathology (August 2013), the National Entomological Society (November 2013), and the American Bee Research Conference (January 2014). At two of the conferences I served as a moderator during different symposia. I also brought undergradautes to several conferences to present their research findings. Professional development: I gained university service by being appointed as the Postdoctoral Associate Representative to the Commission on Research Human Resources Sub-Committee. This was the first appointment of a person from the research faculty ranks to a committee like this. I was involved with developing mentoring plans for postdoctoral associates and developed a Postdoctoral Associate Handbook. For professional development in the teaching area, I attended several Networked Learning Initiatives (NLI, formerly the FDI), Center for Instructional Development and Education Research (CIDER), and AdvanceVT events offered through Virginia Tech. The courses/events are listed below with short descriptions. Networked Learning Initiatives Courses (formerly the FDI) Rethinking PowerPoint for the Classroom (October 28, 2013) Why versus whether – a conversation about online and hybrid strategies (7 April 2014) Online and hybrid education are hot topics in higher education. Yet, the pantheon of acronyms and options in the public discourse (MOOCs, SMOCs, DOCCS….) may appear to champion change or disruption without a clear objective. This session offers you a chance to explore and discuss online and hybrid education from a strategic, goal-oriented perspective. Social media in high ed – using twitter in your teaching and research (17 February 2014) Twitter has several key uses in higher education. As a teaching tool, instructors can engage with learners in discussion regardless of class size. Students can connect with others from their fields, including learners at other institutions and industry professionals. Faculty can easily broaden their connect to various academic communities and increase their access to distributed resources in general and field-specific arenas. As aresearch tool Twitter can connect you to the latest news and discussions in your focus areas. This discussion session will introduce Twitter, includingaccount creation and basic navigation on computers, tablets, and smart phones, as well as tips forTwitter names (@) and hashtags (#); using the “Discover” feature will also be discussed. CIDER: Engaging Lectures Series: Promoting Active Listening with Effective Presentation Skills (24 September 2013) From smartphones to daydreaming, distractions for students during lectures present significant obstacles for instructors seeking to effectively communicate their messages. As part of a series of workshops on engaging lectures, this workshop will focus on strategies for fine-tuning your presentation skills to promote active listening and to provide meaningful learning opportunities during your lectures. The Power of Peers: Making the Most of Your Peer Mentoring Program (24 October 2013) Peer mentoring programs have the potential to make a powerful impact on student learning and development. For faculty members, however, participation in peer mentoring programs requires significant consideration and planning to make the most of the experience. This workshop will highlight current research on peer mentoring as well as best practices for implementing and sustaining an effective peer mentoring experience in your academic program. A conference on higher Education Pedagogy (5 February-7 February 2014) The 6th Annual Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy is focused on higher education teaching excellence and the scholarship of teaching and learning. The conference showcases the best pedagogical practice and research in higher education today. Sessions address disciplinary and interdisciplinary instructional strategies, outcomes, and research. Ultimately, the conference is an opportunity to demonstrate effective instructional practice and disseminate the latest research aimed at improving the quality of higher education. Faculty are, on a daily basis and in very unassuming ways, demonstrating a renewed energy and focus toward the scholarship of teaching and learning. Sessions will address disciplinary, and inter-disciplinary challenges facing teachers and students in higher education and will disseminate the latest research aimed at improving the quality of undergraduate and graduate education. Expeditionary Learning: Theory and Application to Your Classroom (Part 1, Sponsored by the Diggs Teaching Scholar Association) Presenter: Alan Abrahams (10 February 2014) In the “expeditionary learning” approach, students collaboratively discover, catalog, and compare rapidly evolving specimens in their field of study. During this hour long session, an overview of expeditionary learning will be provided, and an example case demonstrated. Participants will then work with the discussion leader to brainstorm and plan how to apply expeditionary learning in their own classroom. Other courses/events attended: Organizing a Course Syllabus/Student Centered Teaching Strategies (August 20, 2013) Whether you might be teaching a course for the first time or have already taught, I encourage you to attend this informal session. You will have the opportunity share some of your ideas with other faculty members and to get teaching ideas from some of the college faculty members who research and study effective teaching methods. As the fall semester begins perhaps you have questions as you busily prepare your course syllabus. Maybe you want to try something new in the classroom. Dr. Donna Westfall-Rudd and other faculty and staff will be available to review and provide feedback/suggestions on how to enhance your course syllabus. You will be able to talk with faculty members about incorporating student-centered teaching strategies into the classroom. AdvanceVT Diversity Conference (January 14, 2013) Conversation with a Beekeeper: EPA - Assessing Pesticide Exposure to Bees (August 20, 2013) Mentoring Conference (November 22, 2013) How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Two extension publications were issued this year. One with the Virginia State Beekeepers Association and the other through the Virginia Cooperative Extension program online. Manuscripts for the scientific community are in the process are being preared. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
For all objectives: Colony treatment and sampling were completed by September 2013. Data collection for Nosema spp., viruses, phenoloxidase, and glucose oxidase activity were completed in early 2014. All results from each objective have been compiled and manuscript preparation has been started. Statistical analysis on all data sets from each objective is currently being completed. Stated goals not met: Statistical analyses took longer than anticipated due to unforseen medical issues with the statistician. Statisical analyses should be completed by the end of the summer and manuscripts can be completed and submitted for publication. We anticiapte submitting manuscripts relating to this project in September 2014. The final report is being completed early because I have accepted a faculty position and was advised to submit the report before I leave Virginia Tech.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Traver, B.E. and Fell, R.D. 2014. Survey for Nosema spp. in preserved Apis spp. Apidologie.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Traver , B.E., Johnson, N.G., Anderson, T.D., and Fell, R.D. 2014. Nosema ceranae Levels and Immune Responses in Bees Following Hive Treatment with Different Pesticides. Kelley Beekeeping Newsletter. 48: 17.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Feazel-Orr, H.K., Traver, B.E., Catalfamo, K.M., Carlyle C. Brewster, Anderson, T.D., and Fell, R.D. 2014. Nutrient Levels in Individual Bees Following Colony Exposure to Different Pesticides. Kelley Beekeeping Newsletter. 45: 17.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Catalfamo, K.M., Traver, B.E., Feazel-Orr, H.K., Johnson, N.G., Anderson, T.D., and Fell, R.D. 2014. Virus Prevalence in Honey Bees Following Colony Treatment with Chlorothalonil, Fumagillin, and tau-Fluvalinate. Kelley Beekeeping Newsletter. 45: 15.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Traver, B.E., Johnson, N.G., Anderson, T.D., and Fell, R.D. 2014. Nosema ceranae Levels and Immune Responses in Bees Following Hive Treatment with Different Pesticides. American Bee Journal. 154(4): 453.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Feazel-Orr, H.K., Traver, B.E., Catalfamo, K.M., Carlyle C. Brewster, Anderson, T.D., and Fell, R.D. 2014. Nutrient Levels in Individual Bees Following Colony Exposure to Different Pesticides. American Bee Journal. 154(4): 453.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Catalfamo, K.M., Traver, B.E., Feazel-Orr, H.K., Johnson, N.G., Anderson, T.D., and Fell, R.D. 2014. Virus Prevalence in Honey Bees Following Colony Treatment with Chlorothalonil, Fumagillin, and tau-Fluvalinate. American Bee Journal. 154(4): 453.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Traver , B.E. and Fell, R.D. 2014. Nosema and Honey Bee Colony Health. Virginia Cooperative Extension. http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/ENTO/ENTO-66/ENTO-66.html
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Traver, B.E. January 2013. Research update from Virginia Tech A new project in the works. Virginia State Beekeepers Association Fall 2013 Newsletter
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Feazel -Orr, H.K., Traver, B.E., Catalfamo, K.M., Brewster, C.C., Anderson, T.D., and Fell, R.D. 2014. Southern Appalachian Honey Bee Research Consortium (Talk): Nutrient Levels in Individual Honey Bees Following Colony Exposure to Different Pesticides. April 5.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Feazel-Orr, H.K., Traver, B.E., Catalfamo, K.M., Anderson, T.D., Brewster, C.C., and Fell, R.D. 2014. Entomological Society of America - Eastern Branch Meeting (Talk): The Effect of Various Pesticide Treatments on Individual Apis mellifera Nutrient Levels. March 15-18.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Traver, B.E., Johnson, N.G., Anderson, T.D., and Fell, R.D. 2014. American Bee Research Conference (Talk): Nosema ceranae Levels and Immune Responses in Bees Following Hive Treatment with Different Pesticides. January 11-12.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Feazel-Orr, H.K., Traver, B.E., Catalfamo, K.M., Carlyle C. Brewster, Anderson, T.D., and Fell, R.D. 2014. American Bee Research Conference (Poster): Nutrient Levels in Individual Bees Following Colony Exposure to Different Pesticides. January 11-12.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Catalfamo, K.M., Traver, B.E., Feazel-Orr, H.K., Johnson, N.G., Anderson, T.D., and Fell, R.D. 2014. American Bee Research Conference (Poster): Virus Prevalence in Honey Bees Following Colony Treatment with Chlorothalonil, fumagillin, and tau-Fluvalinate. January 11-12.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Traver, B.E., Johnson, N.G., Feazel-Orr, H.K., Catalfamo, K.M., Fell, R.D., and Anderson, T.D. 2013. National ESA Meeting (Talk): Do Beekeeper Applied Pesticides Affect Pathogen Levels and Immunity in Honey Bees. November 10-13.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Reeves, A.M., Traver, B.E., Kakumanu, M.L., Williams, J.R., Williams, M.A., Lydy, M.J., Brewster, C.C., Fell, R.D., and Anderson, T.D. 2013. National ESA Meeting (Poster): Pesticides, Pollinators, and Pathogens: Linking Bee Health Deficiencies to Agrochemical Exposures at the Colony Level. November 10-13.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Traver, B.E., Johnson, N.G., Catalfamo, K.M., Feazel-Orr, H.K., Anderson, T.D., and Fell, R.D. 2013. Society for Invertebrate Pathology (Talk): Are Pesticides Affecting Pathogen Levels and Immunity in Honey Bees? August 11-15.
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Progress 08/15/12 to 08/14/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Target audience: For this project, I have two target audiences. The first is the beekeepers and the second is the scientific community. Over the past year I gave two extension talks to local Virginia beekeeping associations: the Ashland Beekeepers Association (September 2012) and the New River Valley Beekeepers Association (May 2013). I also gave a general talk about honey bee decline and possible causes to the Christiansburg Blacksburg Rotary Club (February 2013). For the second target audience, the scientific community, I presented at two scientific meetings: the International Union for the Study of Social Insects, North American Section (October 2012) and the American Bee Research Conference (January 2013). Efforts: Extension talks are a way for me to communicate scientific findings and recommendations to the beekeeping community. Extension short courses, extension presentations, and extension publications are outlets that I have used to disseminate findings. I gave two presentation at an extension short course titled “Managing Pests and Diseases of Honey Bees” and a laboratory diagnosis section on how to identify Nosema in the field. I have also published two extension articles: “A Nosema ceranae Update from Across the Pond” published in Bee Craft, a British beekeeping journal (January 2013) and “Research update from Virginia Tech – A new project in the works” for the Virginia State Beekeepers Association Fall 2012 Newsletter. Changes/Problems: In the objectives, five pesticide treatments were proposed: (1) fumagillin, (2) tau-fluvalinate, (3) chlorothalonil, (4) fumagillin and tau-fluvalinate, and (5) tau-fluvalinate and chlorothalonil, and untreated control colonies. Only the first three treatments were administered and the untreated control. The reduction in treatments was done for several reasons. First, after discussing the project more with my mentors, we agreed that it would be best to examine affects of pesticides on pathogens and immune responses with individual pesticides before looking at combination treatments (i.e. treatment with two pesticides at once). Second, we did not have sufficient money or resources to establish an additional 10 colonies. Using single pesticide treatments plus a control totaled 20 colonies. The time, energy to maintain additional colonies, and money to not only establish the colonies, but also fund the analysis of samples from 10 additional colonies was not feasible. And finally, due to monetary restrictions (only $4,800 was budgeted for supplies for two years), it was necessary to reduce the number of colonies to be analyzed. A second change to the original objectives was the decision to only analyze samples for deformed wing virus (DWV) and black queen cell virus (BQCV). A preliminary screen of our colonies prior to the start of this project, showed that DWV and BQCV were the only viruses detected in our apiaries. An independent screen of our colonies performed by the USDA ARS Bee Research Lab at Beltsville, MD, also showed that DWV and BQCV were the only viruses present. Therefore, no screening for acute bee paralysis virus, chronic bee paralysis virus, Kashmir bee virus, and Israeli acute paralysis virus was performed. Reduction of virus analysis not only made this objective more feasible, but also maximized the impact of limited funding for project supplies by focusing on attainable deliverables. The cost to analyze one honey bee for one virus is about $8.00. Screening for more than two viruses would not have been possible based on funding. The final change to the original objectives involves objective 3, analysis of immune genes in response to pesticide treatment. While at the International Union for the Study of Social Insects, North American Section Meeting in October 2012, a talk was presented regarding virus impact on housekeeping genes. The presenter stated that honey bees infected with a dicistroviridae virus affects many common housekeeping gene expression levels. Because of this finding, doing real-time PCR on immune genes has not been performed. This was an unexpected pitfall that was not anticipated. After discussing this issue with my mentors, the decision has been to focus on glucose oxidase and phenoloxidase. While absolute real-time PCR could be performed for the immune genes, there is no more supply money left for this part of the project. This fellowship provided me with $4,800, over a two year period, for supply money. My mentors have provided $15,000 for supplies. I have written and received several grants to help fund this project. Grant money for supplies has totaled $39,500. All funds currently remaining, approximately $6,000, will be used to complete the Nosema, virus, glucose oxidase, and phenol oxidase analysis. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Training activities: I had the opportunity to guest lecture in two courses this past spring semester: four lectures in Bees and Beekeeping (an undergraduate non-major course) and one lecture for Insect Toxicology (graduate course). I have also been involved with mentoring undergraduate students. I supervised three undergraduate research projects. I taught the students basic laboratory skills, enrolled them in a course on the responsible conduct of research, taught them how to set up experiments, how to organize and interpret data, and how to present data formally. Students submitted research papers in a journal format of their choice. Papers were reviewed and feedback was provided to teach students about the publishing process and how scientific articles are written. I have also helped each student with their professional goals. One student is working towards becoming a middle school science teacher. I have taught her techniques and tools that she can use in the classroom. Another student that I mentored and advised was first author on a paper published last year and will be starting graduate school in the fall. I have given several presentations at conferences. I presented at the Eastern Apiculture Society (August 2012), the International Union for the Study of Social Insects, North American Section (October 2012), and the American Bee Research Conference (January 2013). I have also been active in extension. I have given extension talks to local beekeeping clubs in Virginia: the Ashland Beekeepers Association (September 2012), the Christiansburg Blacksburg Rotary Club (February 2013), and the New River Valley Beekeepers Association (May 2013). In addition I participated in an extension short course titled “Managing Pests and Diseases of Honey Bees”. I provided two lectures, one on Nosema and a second on honey bee viruses. I also led a laboratory diagnostic section to train beekeepers how to diagnose Nosema infections using a compound microscope to examine samples for spores. Professional development: A professional profile on LinkedIn was created to document publications, presentations, memberships, honors and awards, and positions to facilitate professional social networking as part of career development. To help with grant writing, I attended the 2012 National Institute of Food and Agriculture/North Carolina Agricultural Technical State university Grantsmanship Workshop webinar. For professional development, especially in the teaching area, I attended several Faculty Development Institute (FDI), Center for Instructional Development and Education Research (CIDER), and AdvanceVT courses offered through Virginia Tech. They are listed below with short descriptions. FDI Courses Lunch Time with Learning Technologies: Engaging Students using new Technologies (11 September 2012). Topic: Engaging Students using new Technologies - An exploration of the latest tools, strategies, and methodologies designed to enhance and extend current teaching practices. Discussions included the theoretical (social networking, collaboration, student engagement, and more) and the practical (Scholar, ePortfolio, concept mapping, podcasting, Web 2.0 tools, Google tools and more). Resources were provided to help individuals follow through on ideas. Successful Grant Writing - Online Session (20 September 2012). For those planning to apply for a grant in the near future. This session provided the keys to successful grant writing. Special emphasis was placed on how to avoid the common mistakes that can lead to early rejection by substituting more effective writing strategies. Scholar Basics I: What is Scholar? & Site Creation - Online Session (18 October 2012). Welcome to Scholar, a learning and collaboration system which offers tools for teaching, research, and ePortfolio projects. After a brief introduction to the history and development of Scholar, individuals were introduced to the interface and layout, including My Workspace, and the site setup process. After creating a site, participants were familiarized with the features of the Site Info Tool, the control panel for any Scholar site, which allows personalization of the site, control access and site participants, adding or removing Scholar tools, and how to publish the site. At the end of the course, participants have the tools and knowledge to successfully create and publish a Scholar site and how to request help if needed in the future. CIDER Courses How to Improve the Experience of the Students and Professors in Large Classes (Pedagogy in Practice Seminar Series) (24 October 2012). Delivering quality education in large courses (more than ~100 students), while keeping the professor's workload reasonable, is a challenging task. In this presentation, Dr. Nahum shared much of the experienced he and his colleagues gained in doing so on a very large scale: 600 students in one lecture hall for a VT non-major science course. Topics to be covered included syllabus as the "bible" of the course"; use of clickers to enhance the educational achievements and course management at the same time; facilitating students participation; clamping down on exam cheating; a course management tool kit; using humor in the classroom, and more. Doctoral Advising - A Conversation for Faculty and Students (Pedagogy in Practice Seminar Series) (12 November 2012). This seminar extended discussion of the pedagogy and practices shared in the article entitled “Assessment of Advising and Mentoring Graduate Student”. Selecting committee members; mentoring and advising strategies; and ensuring student success were cornerstones topics of this event. An interdisciplinary panel of faculty and students were present to engage in discussion and share ideas regarding advising and mentoring graduate students. Advance VT Work/Life Balance (25 April 2013). It is often hard to balance an academic career and a fulfilling personal life. Christine Smith, Co-Director, Women’s Center and Cynthia Rutherford, Director, Employee Wellness shared ways to cultivate a healthier work/life balance. Highlighting Women Faculty at Virginia Tech (21 March 2013). Dr. Stephanie Adams (Engineering Education), Dr. Nancy Ross (Geosciences), and Dr. Jill Sible (Biological Sciences) discussed their experiences to becoming professors/administrators. Preparing for an Academic Job Interview (20 February 2013). An academic job interview is an opportunity for you and faculty members in your potential department to learn more about each other. Dr. Ericka L. Grafsky from the Department of Human Development shared her perspective and knowledge on how to have a successful academic job interview. Faculty Job Offer and Salary Negotiation (15 November 2012). Alicia P. Cohen (Associate Director, Office of Diversity and Inclusion) discussed strategies for negotiating salary and benefits for faculty positions. Preparing Your CV (25 October 2012). Amy McPherson (Associate Director, Career Services) shared tips on how to prepare a curriculum vita to effectively represent one’s skills and professional experiences. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The summer treatment and sampling period is currently being conducted. The treatments and sampling will be finished by the end of August 2013. Objective 1 Nosema analysis, species determination and quantification of levels, will be completed by the end of October 2013. Objective 2 Virus analysis will be completed by the end of the fall November 2013. Objective 3 Analysis of glucose oxidase and phenoloxidase activity will be completed by early fall (October 2013). Statistical analyses for all seasons will be started once all data have been compiled and should be completed early in 2014. Once the statistics have been completed, work on publications can be started. Data will be presented at the Society for Invertebrate Pathology annual meeting (August 2013), the Entomological Society of America national meeting (November 2013), and possibly the American Bee Research Conference (January 2014).
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: Colonies were treated with the three pesticides (fumagillin, tau-fluvalinate, and chlorothalonil) in the Fall 2012, Spring 2013, and summer 2013. Samples from each sampling period (except the last summer sampling time point scheduled for the end of August) have been obtained. The analysis of samples for Nosema spp. prevalence and infection intensity has been completed through the summer pre-treatment. and statistical analysis has been completed through the spring sampling period.Results thus far indicate decreasing levels of N. ceranae through the winter with an increase through the spring. Preliminarily, it does not appear that pesticide treatments adversely affect the levels of Nosema infections in honey bee colonies. Objective 2: PCR for virus detection has been completed through the spring sampling period. Data are now being compiled to start the statistical analysis. Preliminary data suggest that deformed wing virus and black queen cell virus levels seem to decrease through the winter. Black queen cell virus levels increase during the spring, but deformed wing virus levels continue to decrease into the spring. It is still uncertain as to whether pesticide treatments are affecting virus levels. Objective 3: The biochemical assays examining phenoloxidase and glucose oxidase levels have been completed through the spring sampling. Preliminary data suggest that phenoloxidase activity decreases through the winter and then increases in the spring, a trend that mimics what we see with N. ceranae levels. For glucose oxidase, activity, there is a continuing decrease through the winter and spring, a similar trend as deformed wing virus. It does not appear that pesticide treatments are affecting levels of either immune factor. Stated goals not met: The last sampling period will occur in mid-August. After the sampling is done, Nosema spp. analysis, glucose oxidase, phenoloxidase, and virus detection can be completed. All data should be compiled for Nosema, virus, glucose oxidase, and phenoloxidase by the end of 2013.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Rangel, J., Traver, B.E., Stevens, G. Lachance, M., Howe, M., and Fell, R.D. 2013. Survey for Nosema spp. in Belize Apiaries. Journal of Apicultural Research. 52(2): 62-66.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Mulholland, G.E.*, Traver, B.E., Nels G. Johnson., Fell, R.D. 2012. Individual Variability of Nosema ceranae Infections in Apis mellifera Colonies. Insects. 3(4): 1143-1155.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Traver, B.E. Johnson, N.G., Anderson, T.D., and Fell, R.D. 2013. Effects of Pesticide Exposure on Pathogens and Immunity in Honey Bee Colonies. Science of Bee culture. 5(1): 11.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Traver, B.E. 2012. Research update from Virginia Tech A new project in the works. Virginia State Beekeepers Association Fall 2012 Newsletter.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Traver, B.E. Johnson, N.G., Anderson, T.D., and Fell, R.D. 2013. American Bee Research Conference (Poster): Effects of Pesticide Exposure on Pathogens and Immunity in Honey Bee Colonies. January 10-11.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Traver, B.E. and Fell, R.D. 2012. International Union for the Study of Social Insects, North American Section Conference (Poster): Findings on Nosema ceranae in Virginia. October 5-7.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Traver, B.E. 2013 New River Valley Beekeepers Association. Nosema ceranae Where are we now? May 9.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Traver, B.E. 2013. Blacksburg/Christiansburg Rotary Club. Honey Bee Decline. February 4.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Traver, B.E. 2012 Eastern Apiculture Society of North America Meeting. Nosema ceranae- whos infected in the hive? August 14-17.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Traver, B.E. 2012. Ashland Beekeepers Association Meeting. The what, where, and how for Nosema ceranae. September 6.
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