FORGING CONNECTIONS IN THE STUDY OF POLLINATOR BEHAVIOR, BIOLOGY AND HEALTH AT THE 17TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE IUSS

Pollinators are critical for both agriculture and natural ecosystems, but there have been dramatic declines in pollinator populations world-wide. Pollinator decline not only has alarmed the scientific community, but has gained prominence in the popular press, raising the public's awareness about threats to our ecosystem. The causes for pollinator decline are complex, and it is thought that a combination of many stressors is responsible, including pests, pathogens, environmental contaminants, habitat destruction and climate change. Furthermore, many of these stressors cause sublethal effects, and thus elucidating the impacts of these stressors requires a detailed understanding of the behavior, cognitive processes, and natural history of these diverse species. Addressing these issues will require multidisciplinary research approaches (including the use of newly developed genomic tools and resources), the development of novel management and conservation practices, a strong commitment to disseminate the results of these studies to the public, stakeholder groups, the scientific community, and policy makers, and above all, cooperative efforts that span the globe. The 17th Congress of the International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI), which will be held in Cairns, Australia from July 13-18, 2014, provides an outstanding opportunity for the global community of pollinator researchers to share and synthesize information and develop new collaborations. With the myriad research topics being covered that relate directly to pollinator biology, the 2014 Congress will provide a broad perspective on the effects of different biotic and abiotic stressors on pollinators at multiple levels - from the genome to the ecosystem - and will foster the integrative, multidisciplinary approach needed to effectively address pollinator declines across the international scientific community. Providing support for young U.S. scientists (undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows) to attend the conference to share their results, learn from leaders in the field, and develop collaborations with their international colleagues will greatly enhance and expand the ongoing research projects examining pollinator health and decline in the U.S. and globally. Support from the USDA, coupled with matching funds from IUSSI, will allow 10 outstanding applicants to be selected based on their diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and model systems and their potential to make a significant and lasting impact on global pollinator conservation.