Subproject 3. Terrestrial Ecosystems: Adult and developing honey bees and fruit flies.

In this project thermal stress and contaminants will be evaluated for their effects on social and solitary insect species, from the same habitat. Drosophila model will enable specific studies for effects on neural circuits, allowing molecular genetic manipulations. In honey bee also colony level effects, organismal effects, cellular effects and test of correlates for improved honey bee colony life history will be pursued The combination of field and laboratory studies on these two insects will lead to a mechanistic understanding of deteriorating conditions and potential remediation of terrestrial ecosystems.