Daniel R. Schmehl

My current research aims to understand the physiological and behavioral response of honey bees to various stressors, namely pesticides and reduced nutrition. Due to the high complexity of pheromone-mediated social interactions within the colony, it is important to characterize the impact of these stressors on colony function. To understand this impact, I am examining the role of pesticide and nutritional stress on queen pheromone production and pheromone-mediated queen-worker interactions.  In addition, I am investigating the direct effect of sub-lethal pesticide exposure and nutritional stress on worker physiology and behavior using a wide array of behavioral bioassays and methods of chemical ecology and molecular biology.

Earlier research in my graduate career focused on the behavioral and developmental changes of honey bees when exposed to sub-lethal combinations of pesticides. My updated design to the Proboscis Extension Reflex classical learning bioassay has greatly enhanced the efficiency of performing sub-lethal toxicity learning bioassays and has recently led to a co-authored publication. My research using in vitro honey bee larval rearing examined the role of combinations of pesticides on larval development. We have found numerous negative implications from multiple pesticide interactions in larval “brood food” and our work is currently being prepared for publication.

CURRICULUM VITAE

In addition to my research, I am very passionate about teaching and have eagerly engaged in numerous teaching opportunities during my graduate career. My active participation inside the classroom, as well as through outreach and mentoring, has recently earned me the prestigious university-wide Harold F. Martin Graduate Assistant Teaching Award. Links to my teaching philosophy and CV are posted below

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

M. T. Frazier, E. Muli, T. Conklin, D. Schmehl. B. Torto, J. Frazier, J. Tumlinson, J. D. Evans, S. Rania (2010) A scientific note on varroa mites found in East Africa; Threat or Opportunity? Apidologie 41: 463-465.

Anderson, R.D., Bachmann, A.C., Bentley, T.G., Irwin, B.A., and Schmehl, D.R. (2010) Genetically modified insect disease vectors should be incorporated into vector-borne disease control programs because they decrease disease transmission and spread to humans and livestock with fewer environmental risks than conventional control methods, con position. American Entomologist 56: 108-109.

Schmehl, D.R. and Foster, D. K. (2007) Fall, winter, and spring photosynthetic rates for the evergreen dimorphic fern, Dryopteris marginalis (Abstract). Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science 80: 124-125.

Ciarlo, T.J., C.A. Mullin, J.L. Frazier, and D.R. Schmehl. Learning Impairment in Honey Bees Caused by Agricultural Spray Adjuvants (PLoS One, accepted April 2012 with revisions)

Zhu, W., D. Schmehl, C. Mullin, and J. Frazier. Honey bee larvae are highly susceptible to environmental  levels of pesticides. (in preparation for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry)

Schmehl, D.R. and Conklin, T.C. African Honeybees: Establishing a CCE-icipe collaboration in Kenya. Published in PSU Center for Chemical Ecology Newsletter (July 2009) and PSU Friends of the Frost Newsletter (October 2009).

Schmehl, D.R. “Is that a Pollinator in your Patch?” Published in 2010 Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention Proceedings (February 2010).

Recent Awards:

Harold F. Martin Graduate Assistant Outstanding Teaching Award    2011

• University award given to a graduate assistant showing outstanding teaching performances

Entomological Foundation’s 2010 National Science Project Competition    2010

• Awarded for one of the top insect science project ideas for grades K-12
• “Does floral color or size influence pollinator visitation”

Vartkes Miroyan Memorial Award    2009

• Departmental award given to a graduate student who has achieved exemplary academic excellence and leadershipqualities

Entomological Society of America Student and Early Professional Award    2009

• Awarded for active participation in ESA national meeting in Reno, NV

William Yendol Memorial Research Award    2008, 2009, 2010

• Travel award given to supplement expenses to attend workshops and national conferences