Bee Biology and Behavior Working Group

The natural habitats of insects have changed enormously over the centuries. Insects have to deal with habitat fragmentation and changes in the composition of flora and fauna. This can lead to an increase in various stressors, including nutritional stress. Due to climate change and intensification of land use for agricultural purposes, the availability of food sources has decreased both in terms of diversity and biomass. In addition, there is an increasing tendency for new viruses and other diseases to spread among insect populations. In our projects we study behavior and immunity in social insects and what effects environmental factors but also biodiversity, anthropogenic factors and climatic changes have on insect health.

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