Multi-trophic impacts on the supply of a key ecosystem service: the economic and ecological impacts of parasites of pollinating insects on pollination

Bumblebees provide crucial pollination services to crops and wild plants. Recent work has suggested that commercially reared bumblebees suffer from high parasite loads, that may impact upon their behaviour and lifespan. However, the implications of this for pollination in crops remains unexplored. This exciting project is a collaboration between Royal Holloway University of London, East Malling Research, and BerryGardens (the UK’s leading soft-fruit company). The student will conduct lab, greenhouse and field experiments to measure the ecological and economic impacts of parasites on the pollination efficiency of bumblebees. In addition, they will enjoy a placement with BerryGardens, where they will learn key transferable and industrial skills, to complement the research skills they will develop during this PhD. Applicants should be enthusiastic about pure and applied research, as well as the opportunity to gain cross-over skills between academia and industry. They should possess at least a good 2:I or 1st class degree in an appropriate discipline (biology, ecology, zoology, botany).

Keywords: bee, Bombus, bumble bee, bumblebee, parasite, pollination, applied ecology, behaviour, entomology
Research : http://tinyurl.com/MarkJFBrown

To make a general enquiry, please use the email option below. To make a full application please use the ‘apply online’ option and complete the application form in the link. Send this together with your CV and 2 references to [Email Address Removed] by the closing date above.