Pollination | A Pollinator Health Podcast

Listen in to today's episode to learn about the uniqueness of leafcutting bees, how they're managed, and how to keep your bees safe in using pesticides. “When you look at an alfalfa field, if it has what looks like little metal or wooden sheds in the field, that's where hundreds and hundreds of thousands of leafcutting bees are doing their jobs.” - Dr. Bob Peterson. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Dr-Bob-Peterson

Listen in to today's episode to learn about the bees that evolved in vastly different climates, and why Dr. Woodard's lab studies the way they have adapted. “In the bumblebee lineage, they have been social for so long now, that it's really difficult, in fact impossible, to definitively answer the question of why they evolved socially.” - Dr. Hollis Woodard. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Dr-Hollis-Woodard

Listen in to this special episode to learn how young students can learn about pollinator science and health, and the way education is changing young minds. “It's so cool to see so many kids out here checking out pollinators, and how sophisticated they are and how they really do know a lot about these insects already.” - Nicole Sanchez. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-OPW-2018

Listen to today's episode to find out what we can learn from bee dances, and how home gardeners can make a difference creating their own pollinator habitat. “The hypothesis would be that the hotspots the honeybees have indicated are good or bad will map very nicely with areas that either support abundant and diverse native bee communities and bumblebee colonies, or places and times that are hard for them.” - Dr. Margaret Couvillon. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Drs-Couvillon-and-Schurch

On today's episode, learn how to keep your bees healthy and productive, what is most important in maintaining your bees, and how to prevent varroa mites. “Close to 50% of the nectar that [honeybees] bring in around the year is from blackberries.” - Dr. Ramesh Sagili. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Dr-Ramesh-Sagili

Listen in to learn about Mimi's work studying the pollination of watermelon, and how farmers can improve their crop through cultivating pollinator systems. “Watermelon is one of those crops that is entirely dependent on pollinators in order to set fruit.” - Mimi Jenkins. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Mimi-Jenkins

Listen in to learn the evolution of migratory beekeepers since the 1970's, and why Ron believes that our current pollination system isn't sustainable. “We can do more with fewer acres by using the honeybees, and they're being provided by commercial beekeepers.” - Ron Miksha. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Ron-Miksha 

Listen in to learn about National Pollinator Week, how the Pollinator Partnership helps the world's pollinator populations, and how you can take part. “Protect their lives, preserve ours.” - Kelly Rourke. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Kelly-Rourke

Listen in to learn about how the ways that we maintain our lawns can help or hinder the abundance and diversity of bees, and affect pollinator health. “There are so many variables when you're considering lawns, like how big the lawn is, or where it is, and this study did an amazing job of trying to factor in all of the characteristics.” - Addison DeBoer. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Research-Retinue-Lawns

Listen in to learn more about how you can get started rearing your own queens, the many facets of it's preparation, and Heather's tips in getting started. “Colonies aren't going to rear queens for you unless they're absolutely bursting with bees, and you won't be able to rear good quality queens unless there's a really high level of nutrition in that colony.” - Heather Higo. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Heather-Higo

Listen in to learn about Lincoln Best's manifesto for native bees and plant communities, and his best practices for volunteers in the Oregon Bee Atlas. “A lot of our environmental issues are landscape issues. So in order to have a healthy landscape, we need to know how to manage places and also restore them.” - Lincoln Best. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Lincoln-Best

Listen in to today's episode to learn more about FFAR, the work FFAR is doing to help pollinator research, and how they are helping citizen scientists. “We consider the topic of pollinators and pollinator health to be vital to agriculture and to the success of the United States’s agriculture.” - Sally Rockey. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-FFAR

Listen in to learn more about the science of anthecology, how you can develop resources for pollinators, and what makes the honeybee unique to other bees. “I was really excited to share what I saw. I feel really passionate about it, and I want other people to be passionate about it, too.” - Travis Owen. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Travis-Owen

Listen in to this episode to learn more about Mullerian mimicry, it's role in the evolution of bumblebees, and why it is the subject of Briana's research. “Depending on where you are, you might have the same species with completely different color patterns, and this is fairly common in Oregon.“ - Briana Ezray. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Briana-Ezray

Listen in to learn the role of a museum in biodiversity and pollinator research, how citizen scientists can help, and OSU's new grant-funded bee project. “This atlas will stand as a record of what we have done, and hopefully as a basis for understanding where we might go look for more records or need more records.“ - Dr. Chris Marshall. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Dr-Chris-Marshall

Listen in to learn how best to take care of your mason bees, when to place them outside, and how the Bee Buddy program helps the pollinator community. “If any of you have the chance, take a mason bee or any pollinator, look at it under the microscope and I think it’s going to open up a whole new world to you.” - Jerry Paul. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Bee-Buddies

Listen in to learn about how John got started with nucleus colonies, how he has influenced other beekeepers, and what he saw change in his bees over time. “We examined a number of different beekeeping operations, and it came out that nuc production was the best way to make money. “ - John Gates. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-John-Gates

Listen in to learn about Mark’s work on bees and their communication, how his publications have impacted beekeepers everywhere, and his upcoming release. “If I was going to hang out with beekeepers, I needed to learn how to communicate with them effectively, and I learned very quickly that beekeepers are way smarter than most scientists give them credit for.“ - Mark L. Winston. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Mark-L-Winston

Listen in to learn more about how honeybees affect global regions, which pollinators are the most effective, and how studies could improve their research. “In the fight for bee conservation, we shouldn’t be focusing on honeybees because that’s an agricultural and economic issue, not a conservation issue.” - Isabella Messer. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-OSU-Bee-Squad

Listen in to learn how your local and country agencies have fought for pollinator health, and what changes are taking place with farmers and regulators. “To have this already written plan that has already been agreed upon as a good idea would be really useful for people who want to do the right thing, but aren’t quite sure what that is.“ - Rose Kachadoorian. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Rose-Kachadoorian