Dr. John Skinner, Professor and Extension Apiculturist at the University of Tennessee, will present “Examining Factors of Pollinator Decline, Progress and Future Directions” at the UT Science Forum Friday, February 26.
Crops that benefit from or require pollination to set seeds or produce fruit are valued in excess of $26 billion per year in the United States. This decline includes multiple bee species. Honey bee populations have declined in recent years due to several suspected causes including parasitic mites, viruses and other pathogens, pesticide exposure, challenging weather fluctuations and reduction in food resources, resulting in poor nutrition. This presentation will explain our current knowledge on these suspected causes and discuss the future outlook.
The UT Science Forum takes place in the Thompson-Boling Arena, Rooms C-D from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring their lunch or purchase it from the Arena Cafe. Each 45-minute presentation is followed by a Q&A session.
The UT Science Forum is free and open to the public.