Project Grant 2622626

Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation's Division of Environmental Biology awarded a $369,442 Project Grant to the University of California, Davis, effective January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2029, under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074). This collaborative research initiative addresses wild bee resilience to heat waves across multiple biological scales. The project delivers three primary research products: (1) laboratory assessments of individual bee behavior, reproduction, and survival across life stages in response to simulated heat waves; (2) field monitoring of nesting bee populations using automated remote cameras to determine whether bees select cooler nest locations during heat wave conditions; and (3) AI-assisted camera trap technology to measure native bee community activity before, during, and after naturally occurring heat waves across hundreds of square kilometers. These research activities collectively generate data demonstrating the scale at which ecological and behavioral resilience mechanisms emerge to buffer bee populations against extreme temperatures.

Beyond research outputs, the project develops and demonstrates newly-available environmental monitoring technologies with applications to broader ecological surveillance. The UC Davis team will also produce educational content and museum-based programming through the University of Minnesota to engage public audiences in bee science and climate resilience concepts. The integrated research approach—spanning individual physiological responses through community-level ecological dynamics—is designed to inform evidence-based strategies for maintaining pollination services and food security in the context of climate-driven extreme weather events.