Research in the Boardman Lab will aim to improve the mechanistic understanding of how arthropods live in environments where they must cope with multiple simultaneous stresses (e.g., changes in temperature, oxygen, and/or water availability). One component will use field observations and whole-organism comparative physiology (e.g., animal respirometry, and stress tolerance assays), followed by exploration of the underlying molecular mechanisms and genetic adaptations, to identify how arthropods live in multi-stress environments. A second complementary component will use genetic variation in honey bees to explore questions relating to biogeography, stress tolerance, and invasive species. This research can be applied to improve predictions of the effects of climate change and invasive species spread, and improve the efficacy of chemical-free pest management strategies.
