Dr. Daniel Cariveau
Associate Professor
Dan is a community ecologist with an interest in understanding the factors that drive biodiversity and how biodiversity may influence ecosystem function. His work focuses on native bee communities with a strong emphasis on pollination ecology. Most recently, his work focuses on restoration ecology as a way to conserve biodiversity and as a tool for examining basic questions in ecology.
He earned his PhD studying the interaction among native and invasive plants through pollinators at Colorado State University under Dr. Andrew Norton. He studied native bee community ecology and the role of native bees in crop pollination as a postdoctoral research associate at Rutgers University with Dr. Rachael Winfree.
EXTENSION AND RESEARCH
Will Bjorndal
(he/him/his)
Staff Scientist
Since spring 2021 I have been with the Cariveau Lab, first as a field technician and now as a researcher on the Minnesota Agriculture for Pollinators Project. Previously, I volunteered for the Minnesota Bee Atlas while working as an interpretive naturalist. I am fascinated by the relationships between the prairies, wildflowers, native bees, and people of southwest Minnesota, all of which I became intimately familiar with during MAPP field seasons.
Education:
B.A. Sociology of Law, Criminology, and Deviance, 2016, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Elaine Evans
Associate Extension Professor
Research interests: I work on questions related to wild bee diversity and bee conservation. I am currently assessing the status of Minnesota wild bee communities in comparison to historic records as well as monitoring population of the endangered rusty-patched bumble bee and examining habitat associations.
Outreach and education: I work on bee citizen science efforts including the Minnesota Bumble Bee Atlas. I also work on education efforts to increase awareness of wild bee habitat needs and instill action to create effective pollinator habitat.
U of MN 2019 Outstanding Community Service Award Recipient
Education:
PhD, Entomology, 2016, U of MN, Advisor: Marla Spivak
M.S. Entomology, 2011, U of MN, Dept of Entomology, Advisor: Marla Spivak
B.S. Biology, 1993, Evergreen State College, Olympia WA
Books: Befriending Bumble Bees, Managing Alternative Pollinators
Dr. Katie Lee
(she/her/hers)
Extension Educator and Researcher
I am the Apiculture Extension Educator, a Bee Squad team member, and a post-doctoral researcher on the Minnesota Agriculture for Pollinators Project led by Dr. Dan Cariveau. My work focuses on the parasitic mite Varroa destructor, metrics that indicate queen bee and colony health, and the benefits of pollinator plantings on bee health. I developed a parasitic mite sampling protocol that is now a nationwide standard. For the Bee Informed Partnership, I founded two extension teams that provide colony assessment services for commercial beekeepers. I serve on the boards of the Minnesota Hobby Beekeepers Association and the American Beekeeping Federation and co-chair the education and research committees.
Education:
PhD, Entomology, 2018, U of MN, Advisor: Marla Spivak M.S. Entomology, 2009, U of MN, Advisor: Marla Spivak B.S. Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, 2005, U of MN
Uta Mueller
Post-Doctoral Researcher
Research interests: I am interested in native bee conservation and focus on habitat restoration measures in different environments (agriculture and prairies). Currently I work with testing wildflower seed mixes and their specific floral components over time and generate results for applied conservation management. Furthermore, I am interested in nutritional ecology and native bee pathogens.
Education:
PhD, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
Zachary Portman
Research Scientist & Bee Taxonomist
Research Interests: I am a bee taxonomist, broadly interested in the evolution, ecology, and conservation of bees. My PhD work focused largely on the genus Perdita (Andrenidae). I am currently working on the regional taxonomy of Minnesota bees.
Website: www.zportman.com
Education:
PhD, Ecology, 2017, Utah State University, Adviser: Terry Griswold
B.S. Biology and Computer Science, 2009, Union College
CURRENT GRADUATE STUDENTS
Maggie Anderson
PhD Student
Maggie is a PhD student in the Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Department. She is interested in the effects of plant functional traits on the diversity of wild bee communities. She wants to understand how climate change and habitat fragmentation can alter patterns of plant phenology and ultimately impact pollinator communities in the future. The findings of her work will have conservation and management applications
Education:
B.S. Biology, Lawrence University, WI
Julia Brokaw
PhD Student
Research interests: I am interested in how to establish and restore prairies for native plants and wild bees and the driving factors that make restoration successful at both local and landscape levels. Additionally, I am interested in connecting policy decisions with prairie and pollinator conservation that help both people and the environment.
Education:
B.S. Natural Resources; Applied Ecology, 2014, Cornell University
Chan Dolan
(she/her/hers)
M.S. Student
In the lab, my research interests revolve around bumble bee ecology, identification, and natural history. Specifically, my master's thesis research involves learning more about bumble bee nesting biology and habitat preferences, a very understudied aspect of bumble bee life. I also am interested in working with the public to explore and observe bumble bees, plants, and other organisms alike to help others build a connection to the organisms around us.
Education:
B.A. Biology, 2019, University of Northern Iowa
Mary Powley
PhD Student
Fueled by a passion for bees, I've worked on numerous bee-related research projects over the past few years. As a PhD student, I am interested in pursuing research related to the topics of native bee, community, and pollination ecology. Part of my research will focus on assessing habitat associations and occupancy modeling of bumble bees in eastern Wisconsin.
Education:
B.S. Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, 2019, Rutgers University - New Brunswick
Maya Vellicolungara
(she/her/hers)
M.S. Student
Research Interests: I am interested in how different restoration and land management methods impact pollinators. I also would like to explore how anthropogenic disturbance and land use patterns affect the success of restorations. My master's thesis focuses on bumblebee floral use and occupancy on Conservation Reserve Program lands and remnant prairies.
Education:
B.S. Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior with a minor in GIS, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, 2021
CURRENT TECHNICIANS
Ian Roberts
(He/Him/His)
Lab Technician
After a summer on the MAPP field crew in 2021, I am now working with Dr. Elaine Evans to assess the nutrient profiles of bumblebees, through protein and lipid assays. I have also worked as a trail guide in northern Minnesota, and spend a lot of time in the Boundary Waters! I am fascinated by restoration ecology, especially towards the tallgrass prairies which used to cover the Midwest.
Education:
B.A. Classics (Latin track), 2022, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
B.S. Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, 2022, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
CURRENT UNDERGRAD STUDENTS
Nina Crawford
(she/her/hers)
Lab Technician
I am a senior at the University of Minnesota studying Environmental Science, Policy, and Management and I am currently assisting the MAPP project as an undergraduate research technician. I am interested in pollinator and disturbance ecology and I hope to continue in the research field by pursuing graduate school!
Rachel Runzheimer
(she/her/hers)
Lab Technician
I am a junior at the University of Minnesota studying Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, with an emphasis in Ecological and Environmental Engineering, and a minor in Spanish Studies. I work as a lab technician, pinning bees for the MAPP project. I am interested in ecosystem restoration and sustainable agriculture.
Luke Tonsfeldt
(he/him/his)
Research Technician
I am a senior at the University of Minnesota studying Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior with a minor in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. I work as a MAPP field technician, performing native bee and vegetation sampling and various lab tasks such as pinning specimens. I’m interested in the ecology of human-dominated landscapes, such as urban environments and agricultural regions, and I hope to work in conservation and ecology post-graduation.
CARIVEAU LAB ALUMNI
Students
Alan Ritchie, MS 2020 is now an ecologist at Great River Greening.
Ian Lane, Ph.D 2021 is now an Inventory and Monitoring Data Manager at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Postdocs
Bethanne Bruninga-Socolar is now a professor of Biology at Albright College. Bethanne’s Website
Gabriella Pardee is now a postdoc at Jha Lab at the University of Texas at Austin. Gabriella’s website
Staff Scientists
Emma Dombrow, Kiley Friedrich, Christina Herron-Sweet, Michelle Vohs