#CougsGive

This fund supports cutting-edge research on bee nutrition led by our new Assistant Professor of Pollinator Health and Apiculture, Dr. Priya Chakrabarti Basu. Dr. Basu’s lab is developing two unique, first-of-their-kind bee nutrition databases for North America: The National Pollen Atlas and the North American Pollen Nutrition Database. These databases compile information on pollen samples collected by a wide network of contributors, including beekeepers, master gardeners, 4‑H students, conservationists, collaborating researchers, and countless citizen scientists across the United States and Canada. Each pollen sample is carefully weighed and color-sorted using Pantone color matching, then analyzed using advanced techniques such as nutritional profiling, metabarcoding, acetolysis, and imaging. The resulting data - including pollen color, floral origin, structure, protein and lipid content, and geographic region of collection - are being integrated into publicly searchable databases. Together, these resources will significantly advance our understanding of the nutritional quality of bee forage plants, how improved nutrition supports bee health, and how floral habitats for bees are distributed across North America. Your gift helps map the floral landscape of North America, strengthening pollinator conservation, guiding habitat restoration, and ensuring a healthier future for bees.