NC State Department of Applied Ecology

05/28/2026

“Most protected area managers have never conducted formal or informal infectious disease risk assessments due to lack of expertise, time and resources. This new toolkit responds directly to their needs, allowing a rapid assessment of priority diseases in under 20 minutes”, said Dr. Skylar Hopkins, one of the editors of the publication and Chair of the IUCN WCPA Protected Areas and One Health Task Force. “It offers a robust yet flexible framework, enabling managers to tailor infectious disease risk-reduction strategies to their specific ecological, social and cultural contexts”.

Protected and conserved areas can act as buffers against infectious diseases but even well-managed sites carry risks.

A new IUCN toolkit helps managers assess and reduce disease risks while addressing the interconnections between human, plant, animal and ecosystem .

🔗Learn more https://bit.ly/4vd3l0v

Wildlife Conservation Society Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation WCPA

05/20/2026

Raleigh is known for its culinary landscape, but what does that look like for bees?

On World Bee Day (and for most of the summer!) PhD candidate Gwen Kirschke and a team of undergraduate researchers are studying the floral landscape across Raleigh to discover where bee buffets (flowers) are located and where we can plant more to support local pollinators 🌱🌸

05/18/2026

If a bear p**ps in the woods, what does that p**p tell us about the bear and the woods? 🤔

Ponder no more because Assistant Professor Erin McKenney explains the fascinating tale of the bear gut microbiome and how it can reveal useful information for wildlife managers.

Read more about the bear microbiome: https://cals.ncsu.edu/applied-ecology/news/study-of-gut-microbes-in-black-bears-finds-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria

04/30/2026

In this episode, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman launch a new series focused on honey bee queens with leading researcher Dr. David Tarpy. From the start, the conversat…

04/27/2026

04/27/2026

🐝 The BeeMORE program is one of two recipients of The CALS Spirit of the Land-Grant Award, which recognizes individuals or teams who exemplify the CALS land-grant mission through impactful projects or programs in discovery, engagement and learning.

🌻The BeeMORE program is a 10 week summer research experience that focuses on building awareness and fundamental skills in the areas of microbiology and bee biology. The program gives undergraduates the opportunity to investigate a variety of topics that highlight the importance of bees as pollinators, the role of pollinators in crop productivity, the importance of microbes in earth ecology, and the specific role of microbes in bee health and disease.

This is an incredible honor and we are so proud of the BeeMORE team!

Read about the 2024 BeeMORE researchers: https://cals.ncsu.edu/applied-ecology/news/undergraduates-blossom-researching-bees-in-summer-stem-experience

04/14/2026

Did you know that bees might be living in your flower stems? 🐝

Not only are flowers food for pollinators, but they are also an important nesting resource for stem-nesting bees. The latest research, published just in time for National Gardening Day, suggests that flowers should be cut back during their first winter before bees move in come spring.

For more research-based info on pollinator garden cleanup, visit https://cals.ncsu.edu/news/how-your-perennial-garden-can-shelter-bees

04/10/2026

Why is Applied Ecology alum and collaborator Dr. Hannah Levenson hanging out in a cemetery? You won't bee-lieve what she's been up to 🐝

I got up-close filming and learning about ground-nesting bees. They appear in the spring are important pollinators and keystone species of their ecosystems!Y...

04/09/2026

When you need caffeine & deserve a sweet treat ☕️🍪

It's Grad Student Appreciation Week! We are celebrating their achievements and sharing our appreciation for their hard work & dedication to discovery, one cup of coffee at a time. Thank you, grads!

12/09/2025

Graduate student Nick Loschin attended the 17th International Society for Biosafety Research (ISBR) Symposium in Ghent, Belgium! 🌍🧬

There, he presented his recently published paper, Environmental Assessment and Regulatory Oversight of Genetically Engineered Crops in the United States (Loschin et al., 2025)—a piece that calls for strengthening elements of oversight, even in a room where many advocate reducing it.

Read about his experience on the Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Center blog: https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2025/12/blog-genes-to-governance-isbr-symposium-ghent