Margarita Lopez-Uribe

She Studied How Logging Affects Pollinators

An article about a former lab tech in my lab, Kim Ballare, in the new NYTimes "Lost Science" series about impacts of federal cuts. Thanks to @carlzimmer.com for doing this!
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/s...

Postdoctoral Fellowship - Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior

Apply to become the next MSU EEB Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow!

These are two year positions with research stipend, working with 2+ MSU EEB faculty. Applications due 10 November 2025. More here:

eeb.msu.edu/initiatives/...

The effects of floral microclimate on pollen viability and visitor behavior Flowers represent intricate microcosms shaped by their physical, chemical, and micrometeorological properties. Both thermogenic and non-thermogenic fl…

Here is the original paper by Dahake et al
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Photo by Nash Turley

🌼 New paper showing that it's not just pollinators shaping flowers—abiotic factors like humidity and temperature also influence floral form and function. Check out this new paper on a more complex picture of floral evolution. 🌬️🐝
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Sad about this news. What a great legacy she leaves behind.

NSF’s doors will be closed at 1:30 pm today. While you may be able to submit things, there will be no staff to process anything. In fact it is illegal for us to even open our work computers or email during a shutdown. A very few rotators may be able to communicate, so check out of office responses.

Modeling the effects of stress and premature hive exiting behavior on honey bee (Apis mellifera) colony survival - Apidologie Honey bees have a complex social structure, with many factors affecting colony survival. Mathematical models are therefore valuable for understanding how individual variables affect honey bee colony dynamics. Previous honey bee population models have shown that accelerated aging due to stress can lead to colony decline. Our previous work showed that general developmental stress causes a previously undocumented behavior whereby very young workers exit the colony before they can fly, leading them to die prematurely on the ground outside the hive. In this study, we modeled the effects of this premature hive exiting behavior on colony survival. We used parameters from previous studies to inform our model and incorporated empirical data regarding the rate of premature hive exiting behavior driven by various developmental stressors. An equation to link premature exit with accelerated aging was also introduced to mirror population dynamics across different worker age groups. We found that higher rates of premature hive exiting behavior can accelerate colony collapse. A feeding variable (provisioning colonies with extra sugar syrup) and a brood break variable (preventing the queen from laying eggs for a given time period to decrease Varroa mite levels) were added to the model to examine ways to counteract the negative effects of premature hive exiting behavior and to assess their effectiveness at regulating the progression of worker aging. Our results suggest that both supplemental feeding and implementing brood breaks can bring a colony back from the brink of collapse.

A new study finds that developmental stress is associated with young workers leaving hives too early and dying outside. Management tools like extra feeding + brood breaks can rescue stressed colonies
#HoneyBees #Pollinators #ColonyHealth
@julirangel.bsky.social
link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Past, present, and future of SSR molecular markers in bee studies - Apidologie Understanding bees, with their extensive morphological, phylogenetic, and behavioral diversity and their significant economic and ecological roles, requires integrating classical and modern scientific methods. Microsatellite (SSR—Simple Sequence Repeat) markers are a low-cost tool useful for various investigations at individual, colony, population, and species levels. However, a comprehensive review on the applications, trends, and Limitations of molecular markers in bee studies is lacking. We aimed to systematize the knowledge about microsatellite markers in bee research, characterize research trends, discuss their applications, and present their advantages and Limitations to address major knowledge gaps across various research themes. Additionally, we aimed to establish a preliminary database of microsatellite primers and their transferability across related species. We conducted a systematic review of research articles on microsatellites and bees published until 2023. Our review included 576 articles from all biogeographical realms, which covered 173 species from 19 families. Apidae (94.1%) and Halictidae (3.4%) were the most frequent bee families in studies, with a strong dominance of Apis and Bombus species, followed by Meliponini species. Future research should include more solitary species and additional species from underrepresented tribes. The reviewed articles spanned 11 research themes, ranging from basic bee biology to applied and multi-disciplinary research, with reproduction, conservation, behavior, evolution, breeding, and beekeeping being the most frequent themes. Microsatellite markers are a suitable choice for most research themes and show a promising trend for continued use in future bee studies.

🐝 New review: Past, present, and future of SSR molecular markers in bee studies. The study is based on 576 papers from 173 species. Results find that most work has focused on Apis & Bombus 🐝 and that SSRs remain powerful + low-cost for bee research
#Bees #Genetics
link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Consider signing - Petition to NSF to Restore Eligibility for the 2026 Graduate Research Fellowship Program Competition 🧪🌐https://laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/

Assessing the status of sundial lupine (Lupinus perennis L.) genetic diversity and population structure throughout its distribution Habitat loss threatens plant genetic diversity, with consequences for species survival and ecosystem health. This study describes the genetic diversity, st

New study on the genetic diversity and population structure of the decline oak savanna plant Lupinus perennis
academic.oup.com/aobpla/artic...

Thank you Hannah! I hope you enjoy the book!

New study in #G3journal from @mmlopezu.bsky.social and the team reveals the importance of diet in #Bee sensory gene evolution, where generalists lose odorant receptors and gain gustatory receptors, while specialists diversify existing genes. buff.ly/1LSfQpl

1) Are you an Assistant Professor studying evolutionary biology?

2) Are you in the US?

3) Would you like to give a research seminar in Iowa?

4) Are you available to travel September 4-6?

If you can answer YES x4, please DM me ASAP, or comment below.

My team has updated our free database of POSTDOC fellowships.

This database contains 286 entries. For each entry, we provide a link, short description, deadline, amount, and eligibility criteria.

Download this updated and expanded database here: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...

Cover image in #G3 highlighting our new paper in "Shifts in bee diet breadths are associated with gene gains and losses and positive selection across olfactory receptors"
academic.oup.com/g3journal/ar...
@genetics-gsa.bsky.social

www.sciencemagazinedigital.org/sciencemagaz...

Thank you Aimee!

Write Your Own Letter to Congress The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance physics by fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and global community dedicated to science and society.

Science funding is still being finalized as Congress is now passing specific appropriations. The easiest way I have found to write to our reps is thru this simple form (you just need your ZIP code and a few sentences of things that matter to you, like science funding!)

www.aps.org/initiatives/...

Thank you, Carlos! We also hope to soon be able to test the hypotheses posed by this paper with a broader phylogenetic sampling that includes andrenids and melitids!

Shifts in bee diet breadths are associated with gene gains and losses and positive selection across olfactory receptors Abstract. Bees are palynivorous insects that vary widely in the number of plant families from which they collect pollen. Their evolutionary history has bee

🧬 Shift between specialized & generalized diets in #bees is associated with evolutionary changes in their sensory genes. Generalists lose odorant receptors (ORs) and gain gustatory receptors (GRs), while specialists diversify existing genes 🌸🐝 #genomics #pollinators
academic.oup.com/g3journal/ad...

Donate to Support Sheila Colla Through Cancer Treatment, organized by Anna Penner There is a good chance that you already know Sheila Colla: she is a brillian… Anna Penner needs your support for Support Sheila Colla Through Cancer Treatment

Sheila was a remarkable friend, colleague, mentor, neighbour, and mother, who gave so much to all of her communities. I looked up to her immensely as a colleague who thought deeply about the way we do science and who we include and uphold. She will be deeply missed. www.gofundme.com/f/support-sh...

Pinguicula vulgaris growing in moss

Are #carnivorous #plants mixotrophic?

A #Letter by Lin et al. 👇

📖 nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

#LatestIssue #PlantScience

(Image: Jörg Hempel, Wikimedia Commons)

In about a week we (Biological Sciences @ Monash Uni in Melbourne, Australia) will be opening a search for 3 (!!!) permanent academic positions (40% research, 40% teaching, 20% service) at Lecturer/Senior Lecturer. 1 Genomics, 2 Ecology. Please share, email me, DM, follow, send carrier pigeons…

Organic colony management practices are profitable for backyard beekeepers Abstract. Management practice decisions are critical for maintaining honey bee, Apis mellifera L., colony health, and the profitability of beekeeping opera

🐝 New research shows that an organic bee management system is profitable in small-scale stationary operations. 📉 Chemical-free = economic losses. 📈 Organic = highest honey & bee production. Mite control = key to success!
#Beekeeping #OrganicFarming #HoneyBees

academic.oup.com/jee/advance-...

Attending the #2025ParamosSymposium I’ve learned so much about plants, soils, and water. Looking forward to the next 4 days! @stl.bsky.social

I am so excited about this upcoming publication about the Bees of Pennsylvania! 🐝 Stay tuned; we will have a page online where you can purchase this book in July! @nashturley.bsky.social @napoleonicento.bsky.social @stephanidae.bsky.social

Leave the Leaves! One of the most valuable ways to support pollinators and other invertebrates is to provide them with the shelter they need to survive the winter. Thankfully, all you need to do is do less yard work.

Some advice for spring gardening! xerces.org/blog/leave-t...

National Science Foundation Terminates Hundreds of Active Research Awards (Gift Article) The agency targeted grants focused on diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as research on misinformation.

@katrinamillerphd.bsky.social & I took a look at over 400 active National Science Foundation grants that got killed in the past few days. Here's our story (gift link) nyti.ms/4jp4aOx

Updates on NSF Priorities

This is bad.

Read the updates.

www.nsf.gov/updates-on-p...

U.S. climate data websites go dark Lapse may be temporary, but draft budget plans would eliminate service

U.S. scientists, state policymakers, farmers, and others who depend on up-to-date climate data on Thursday confronted an information blackout from federal regional climate centers across much of the country.