News

Emily Davis

BSc Zoology (2007), Queen’s University Belfast

PhD (2007-present), Queen’s University Belfast:

"Conservation ecology and genetics of the rare northern mining bee Colletes floralis "

Tel:     +44 (0)28 9097 2103

Fax:    +44 (0)28 9097 5877

Email: edavis01@qub.ac.uk

Summary 

Emily is undertaking a PhD funded parly by the Department of Education and Learning (DEL) and partly by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) through the Natural Heritage Research Partnership (NHRP). Her PhD focuses on the "Conservation ecology and genetics of the rare northern mining bee (Colletes floralis)". She is using microsatellite genetic markers to analyse populations of Colletes to determine population structure and infer connectivity and gene flow.

Emily is also investigating floral resource use by the species and carrying out habitat surveys to identify key features of their sand dune nest sites. The overall aim of this project is to gather new data regarding the abundance, distribution and characteristics of Colletes populations; which is vital to the management and conservation of this rare species. 
 
 
Research Interests

• Terrestrial ecology
• Conservation genetics
• Entomology

Scientific Presentations 

Davis, E., Murray T.E., Fitzpatrick U., Brown M.J.F., & Paxton R.J. (2009) Population genetics of a rare mining bee, Colletes floralis: implications for the management of a UK BAP species. Royal Entomological Society, aculeate conservation SIG meeting. Rothamsted, England, 1st April. (Oral Presentation).

Davis, E., Murray T.E., Fitzpatrick U., Brown M.J.F., & Paxton R.J. (2008) Conservation ecology and genetics of a rare mining bee, Colletes floralis. EurBee 3: 3rd European conference of Apidology: Diversity & Conservation symposium. Queen’s University Belfast, 8th-11th September. (Oral Presentation).