Progress 04/01/23 to 03/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience: During this reporting period, we reached our target audience through various efforts as evidenced below: • KSU Bee-Health Research Program: Latest Updates and Q&A. Russell County Beekeepers Monthly Meeting, 4/6/2023 • KSU Bee-Health Research Program: Latest Updates and Q&A. Clark's River Bee Keepers Monthly Meeting, 4/11/2023 • KSU Bee-Health Research Program: Latest Updates and Q&A. Little Sandy Beekeepers Monthly Meeting 5/2/2023 • KSU Bee-Health Research Program: Latest Updates and Q&A. Spencer County Beekeepers Monthly Meeting, 5/9/2023 • KSU Bee-Health Research Program: Presentation at KSU Booth, Holbrook K, Kentucky State Fair, 8/19/2023 • KSU Bee-Health Research Program: Latest Updates and Q&ANortheast Kentucky Beekeepers Monthly Meeting, 9/11/2023 • Busy Bees: Keeping Our Ecosystem Buzzing with Life. Berea College Beekeeping and Bee Biology Class Field Work Day. 9/13/2023 • KSU Bee-Health Research Program: Latest Updates and Q&A. Cynthiana Honey festival, 9/ 23/ 2023 • Assessment of Honey Bee Stressors and Colony Management in Kentucky: Some Results. Oral Presentation, ApisRescue annual conference, Louisville, Jan 27th, 2024 • Assessment of Honey Bee Stressors and Colony Management in Kentucky. Oral Presentation, annual conference, Entomological Society of America (ESA), Washington DC, November 06-11, 2023 • Progress Towards Assessing Honey Bee Stressors and Colony Management Practices in Kentucky. Bluegrass Bee school, Frankfort KY 3/09/24 • Healthy Hive: How to Monitor and Treat Varroa Mites. Kentucky State Beekeeping Association (KSBA) Annual Conference (Bluegrass Beekeeping School). Palmer J, Holbrook K, Olden F. 3/09/2024 Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?During this period, I had the opportunity to learn how to effectively use the survey platform Qualtrics for conducting surveys. This allowed me to produce data that was statistically analyzed, yielding results that are instrumental in improving beekeeping practices in Kentucky. Additionally, conducting pesticide residue analysis provided me with the chance to expand my knowledge of chemical concepts and enhance my skills in statistics through the processing of raw data using software such as Prism. This project also facilitated several partnerships, including collaborations with the Bioinformatics Core and the Metagenomics Core at the University of Delaware, as well as the Biotechnology program at BCTC. These partnerships not only advanced the project goals but also provided valuable opportunities to examine in depth various approaches for handling large sequencing data to obtain the most accurate results. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated through diffrent events but most notably in the following: Olden F, Palmer J, Holbrook K, Assessment of Honey Bee Stressors and Colony Management in Kentucky. Oral Presentation, annual conference, Entomological Society of America (ESA), Washington DC, November 06-11, 2023 Olden F, Webster T, Holbrook K, Palmer J, Assessment of Honey Bee Stressors and Colony Management in Kentucky: Some Results. Oral Presentation, ApisRescue annual conference, Louisville, Jan 27th, 2024 Progress Towards Assessing Honey Bee Stressors and Colony Management Practices in Kentucky. Olden F, Webster T, Palmer J and Holbrook K. Bluegrass Bee school, Frankfort KY 3/09/24 What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the upcoming reporting period, our aim is to achieve the disease mapping objective by completing all RNA extractions, library sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis of fall, spring, and summer bee samples. Regarding Objective 2, we plan to finalize the pesticide analysis of spring and summer samples. For Objective 3, we intend to complete the distribution of the large survey and analyze the collected data. Additionally, we will continue developing educational materials to support Objective 4. Utilizing the outcomes of all these objectives, we will sustain our extension efforts across Kentucky to fulfill Objective 5.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: Map honey bee disease prevalence in Kentucky apiaries Sample collection for the Spring and Summer seasons was conducted between April and September 2023. The six physiographic regions--Bluegrass, Knobs, Eastern Coal Field Region, Mississippi Plateau, Western Coal Fields, and Jackson Purchase--were visited, and samples of wax, bees, pollen, and honey were collected from about 10 apiaries per region. The collected bees are intended to fulfill the disease prevalence objective. Also, during this reporting period, RNA extraction from 277 samples of the fall season and the subsequent sequencing of 57 libraries were completed. The metagenomic analysis of these libraries has been completed, and the bioinformatic analysis of the generated sequencing data is in its final stageto identify and quantify the pathogens present in the fall samples.For the spring samples, the RNA extraction of 125 bee samples and the sequencing of the generated 18 libraries, are in progress. Finally, the processing of the Summer samples is scheduled to be completed in March 2024 for RNA extraction and library sequencing during summer 2024. b. Objective 2: Identify and quantify pesticides contaminants in Kentucky apiaries Sample collection for the Spring and Summer seasons took place from April to September 2023. Visiting the six physiographic regions--Bluegrass, Knobs, Eastern Coal Field Region, Mississippi Plateau, Western Coal Fields, and Jackson Purchase--we gathered samples of wax, bees, pollen, and honey from approximately 10 apiaries per region. The collected pollen was gathered specifically to address the objective of assessing pesticide contamination prevalence. As of March 2024, hundred-thirty-one hives of the fall pollen samples have been processed. The pesticide residue analysis was performed using GC and LC-MS/MS multi-residue screen that includes 468 analytes. The analysis generated results that are available for Kentucky beekeepers and for further downstream analysis. c. Objective 3: Epidemiological survey of honey bee colony losses in Kentucky During this period, we report that a final number of 57 beekeepers participated in the pilot survey, all of whom were involved in the hive matrices collection and citizen science aspect of this project. The survey responses, whether in hard copy or emailed attachments, were processed and entered into the Qualtrics survey platform. The survey results were then analyzed using the Qualtrics data analysis tool. The final results of the pilot survey proved instrumental in refining the final large survey questionnaire that is intended for a wider participation of beekeepers across Kentucky. As of March 2024, the large survey has been distributed via links or QR codes at conferences and bee schools, resulting in 190 beekeepers completing the survey thus far. d. Objective 4: Improvement of curricula and development of new course materials During this period, our focus was on developing teaching materials, particularly by exploring videography techniques. We acquired materials to enable research associates and graduate students to record videos while conducting fieldwork, allowing us to capture the techniques and protocols used in field trials and beekeeping at our apiary. Additionally, we established a partnership with Bluegrass Community & Technical College (BCTC), providing them with fall pollen samples and reagents in exchange for conducting sequencing to identify the pollen species in these samples. This collaboration involves both BCTC students and our graduate students, allowing them to learn new molecular biology research protocols. e. Objective 5: Improving extension services to Kentucky beekeepers ? During this reporting period, we maintained our efforts to connect with beekeepers across Kentucky, aiming to raise awareness about the KYSU pollinator research and extension program, and to address beekeeping questions through Q&A sessions following our presentations. We continued to organize oral presentations during monthly meetings held in various locations throughout Kentucky, including Russell County, Clark's River, Little Sandy, Spencer County, and Northeast Kentucky. Additionally, we participated in events such as the Kentucky State Fair, Cynthiana Honey Festival, and the ApisRescue conference, among others. We also renewed our presence at the Bluegrass Bee School and conducted a workshop focusing on testing and treating for varroa mites. Furthermore, we delivered talks highlighting the results of this project and their significance for Kentucky beekeeping at the Bluegrass Beekeeping School and the ApisRescue conference. Continuing our commitment to raise awareness about the importance of bees and research-driven beekeeping, particularly among young Kentuckians, we participated in the Berea College Beekeeping and Bee Biology Class during their Field Work Day.
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Progress 04/01/22 to 03/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:Kentucky beekeepers, local associations of beekeepers (such as Kentuckyana Beekeepers Association and Kentucky State Beekeepers Association), Kentucky small farmers, Kentucky scientific and academic entities (such as Blue Grass Community and Technical College) national associations and societies (such as Entomological Society of America and American Association of Professional Apiculturists), Kentucky general public, general public and scientific community at large. Changes/Problems:This project faced a substantial two-year delay due to various challenges, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the struggle to fill the field assistant position, and a change in direction that was suggested by the former president of the Kentucky State Beekeeper Association but turned out to be incorrect. Despite these hurdles, we have made significant progress during this reporting period. However, it is important to acknowledge that the project's scope is extensive, involving a large number of samples that require processing and complex analysis of big data, including a metagenomics analysis. The sheer volume and intricacy of these tasks mean that the project will require an extension to ensure it is completed thoroughly and accurately. We remain committed to the project's success and will continue to work diligently to achieve our objectives, ultimately delivering comprehensive and valuable results. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Through this project, I had the opportunity to delve into a novel research method involving the use of surveys for data collection. The process of developing the survey instrument proved to be an invaluable learning experience, and the final product has not only proven to be beneficial for this specific project but also holds potential value for other research endeavors at Kentucky State University and beyond. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The project's objectives and sampling activities were effectively communicated through various channels, including bee schools, county monthly meetings, and online platforms like the KSU bee program's Facebook page as well as facebook pages of different regional honey bee associations. While we have actively shared information about the project, it is important to note that at this stage, we do not have any results that ready for dissemination. As the research progresses and data analysis is completed, we look forward to sharing our findings with the community and interested stakeholders. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This project encountered a significant two-year delay due to several challenges, including limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, difficulties in filling the field assistant position, and a new direction suggested by the former president of the Kentucky State Beekeeper Association that proved to be unsuitable. Despite these obstacles, substantial progress has been made during the year 22/23, addressing all five project objectives. However, there is still a considerable amount of work to be completed to finalize the project. In the upcoming reporting period, our focus will continue to be on extension efforts and enhancing curricula. We aim to complete sample collection ofsummer seasonand conduct data analysis for a portion of the collected samples, as well as finalize the survey. Due to the delays encountered at the project's inception and the extensive volume of samples that need to be processed, along with the complexity of sequencing and data analysis, we anticipate that the project will require an extension of at least one year. This extension will allow us to ensure thorough and accurate analysis, leading to comprehensive and meaningful results.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
a. Objective 1: Map honey bee disease prevalence in Kentucky apiaries Sampling collection for the Fall season was conducted between September and November 2022. All six geographical regions of Kentucky, namely Bluegrass, Knobs, Eastern Coal Field Region, Mississippi Plateau, Western Coal Fields, and Jackson Purchase, were visited. In each region, ten apiaries were included for sample collection, totaling 60 apiaries overall. During these visits, a total of 285 hives were randomly selected, to collect pollen, bees, honey, and wax. As a result, four collections of beehive matrices were created, each comprising approximately 280 samples. To ensure proper sample preservation, the collections were carefully transported using dry ice and subsequently stored in -80 freezers. Moving forward, a metagenomics strategy will be employed to process the bee samples and detect potential diseases. b. Objective 2: Identify and quantify pesticides contaminants in Kentucky apiaries Sampling collection for the Fall season was conducted between September and November 2022. All six geographical regions of Kentucky, namely Bluegrass, Knobs, Eastern Coal Field Region, Mississippi Plateau, Western Coal Fields, and Jackson Purchase, were visited. In each region, ten apiaries were included for sample collection, totaling 60 apiaries overall. During these visits, a total of 285 hives were randomly selected, to collect pollen, bees, honey, and wax. As a result, four collections of beehive matrices were created, each comprising approximately 280 samples. To ensure proper sample preservation, the collections were carefully transported using dry ice and subsequently stored in -80 freezers.The pollen samples were sorted, and a subset were pooled according to the region and colony strength. Each sample that was selected for further analysis was divided in two parts which created two identical batches, one is being analyzed at Guelph University to detect the presence of pesticide residues, while the other batch was submitted to Blue Grass Technical College (BCTC) to carry out species identification via DNA sequencing. This comprehensive analysis will provide valuable insights into the health and characteristics of the bee populations in the various regions of Kentucky. c. Objective 3: Epidemiological survey of honey bee colony losses in Kentucky A comprehensive survey instrument was created, comprising a questionnaire with 37 short and direct questions. The questions were designed to elicit yes or no answers or gather simple information, such as the number of treatments administered per year. The pilot survey was executed by distributing the questionnaire via email or in person to the beekeepers. All beekeepers whose apiaries were included in the sample collection were invited to take part in the survey. This effort resulted in the collection of over 50 survey responses from the beekeepers. Additionally, the survey elicited valuable feedback, enabling further refinement and improvement of the final survey instrument. d. Objective 4: Improvement of curricula and development of new course materials In the Fall 22/23 semester, the KSU Genetics course (BIO 307) incorporated high-tech wet lab sessions to instruct students in the fundamentals of molecular genetics research. These labs were designed to be hands-on and included the utilization of bee tissue from the collected samples. During the lab sessions, students applied various techniques, such as protein quantification, DNA extraction, DNA quantification, and electrophoresis. These labs enabled students to practice current technologies but also gain insight into what research projects entail. e. Objective 5: Improving extension services to Kentucky beekeepers During this reporting period, our primary focus was on connecting with beekeepers across Kentucky to raise awareness about the KYSU pollinator research and extension program. We aimed to inform them about the program's capacity to provide support and assistance to beekeepers in their endeavors. To achieve this, we organized three engaging dialogues during monthly meetings held in different counties, including Garrard, Cynthia, and Jessamine. These dialogues allowed beekeepers to learn about our program and also provided them with a platform to ask questions related to apiculture. In addition, we conducted a specialized workshop at the Blue Grass Bee School, focusing on testing and treating for varroa mites, a common pest affecting honey bee colonies. This workshop aimed to equip beekeepers with valuable knowledge and practical skills to manage this issue effectively. Furthermore, we delivered a presentation titled "Sampling Method to Assess Colony Health in Kentucky." This presentation emphasized the importance of monitoring colony health and provided information about our ongoing project. During the presentation, we also encouraged beekeepers to participate in a forthcoming colony loss and management survey. Recognizing the significance of raising awareness about honey bees among the general public, we directed outreach efforts beyond beekeepers. One such effort involved presenting to the Berea College Beekeeping and Bee Biology Class during their Field Work Day, where we shared insights into the vital role of honey bees and their importance for the environment and agriculture. Through these various activities, we strived to foster a collaborative and informed beekeeping community while highlighting the crucial role of honey bees in our ecosystem and the importance of their conservation and protection.
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