Jerry J. Bromenshenk

Research Professor, Division of Biological Sciences

Director MT DOE/EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research)

CEO, Bee Alert Technologies, Inc.

University Office Telephone: (406) 243-5648; Cell Phone (406) 544-9007
Fax Number: (406) 243-4184
E-mail: mailto: jjbmail@selway.umt.edu

B.S. Montana State University, 1968
Ph.D. Montana State University, 1973

Research Interests:
My research interests encompass the fields of ecotoxicology, population dynamics, and environmental chemistry. Current projects include trials to quantify the performance of bees conditioned (trained) to detect landmines and the use of LIDAR to locate and map bees over mine fields, as well as using conditioning to direct bees toward crops that they may be reluctant to pollinate.

Recent work has focused on developing tools and methods for accomplishing real-time monitoring of exposures to and the effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors, using hives fitted with electronic sensors and chemical sampling probes. Other work, in collaboration with Dr. Bruce Lighthart, MARL, focused on modeling the adsorption of spores and viruses onto bees, including the affect of electrostatic charge on uptake dynamics.

All of these projects are aimed at using bees to locate and map harmful materials, for surveillance, mitigation, and early warning of potential threats to human health, as well as to provide information about cumulative effects for ecological risk assessments.

Our research involves developing and testing computerized data acquisition equipment to provide continuous, accurate, and precise field and laboratory measurements, and for distance reporting of data or alerts. It also includes development of computer models that simulate the responses of honey bee colonies to environmental stressors. The initial model, PC BEEPOP, is our PC-based model and an expert system used for environmental risk assessments, for research, and to teach principles of apiculture, population biology, and ecotoxicology.

Presently, we are also using Artificial Neural Networks to evaluate and to model complex data sets encompassing bee activity, colony homeostasis and productivity, weather, and volatile chemicals found in hive atmospheres.

Our current research team consists of scientists from Sandia National Laboratories (explosives), NOAA (LIDAR), and Montana State University (chemistry, electrical engineering and LIDAR, in addition to Dr. Colin Henderson (experimental design and quantitative ecology), Dr. Garon Smith (analytical chemistry), Mr. Robert Seccomb (computer systems and ANNs), and Mr. Steve Rice (electronics prototyping) at The University of Montana.

Our recently formed Bee Alert Technology company is intended to act as a Technology Transition firm, bringing our methods and equipment (patents pending) into the market place. Our primary focus encompasses two areas: 1) environmental surveillance and survey, and 2) pollination and precision agriculture.

In addition to these research and business projects, I direct the energy-related research and education programs of the Montana Organization for Research in Energy (MORE). Funded projects have included Research Clusters in Electron Transfer and Optic Devices, Wind Energy and Petroleum Reservoir Characterization, and Human Resource Development Programs involving Montana's Tribal Schools.

Patents Pending:

Honey Bee Conditioning Methods, Hardware, and Software and Honey Bee Smart Hive Electronics and Software.

Selected Publications:

Bromenshenk, J.J., C.B. Henderson, and G.C. Smith. 2003. Biological Systems (Paper II), Appendix S. In: Alternatives for Landmine Detection, J. MacDonald et. al.., eds. RAND Science and Technology Institute for Office of Science and Technology Policy, Arlington, VA.

Smith, G.C., Bromenshenk, J.J., Jones, D.C., and G.H. Alnasser. 2002. Volatile and Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds in Beehive Atmospheres. In: Honey Bees: Estimating the Environmental Impact of Chemicals, J. DeVillers and M-H. Pham-Delegue, eds. Taylor and Francis, London, Chapter 2:12-41.

Barisic, D., Bromenshenk, J.J., N. Kezic, and A. Vertacnik. 2002. The Role of Honey Bees in Environmental Monitoring in Croatia. In: Honey Bees: Estimating the Environmental Impact of Chemicals, J. DeVillers and M-H. Pham-Delegue, eds. Taylor and Francis, London, Chapter10:160-185.

Prier, K.R.S., B. Lighthart, and J.J. Bromenshenk. 2001. An adsorption model of aerosolized bacterial spores (Bacillus subtilis variety niger) onto free-flying honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and its validation. Environ. Entomol. 30:1188-1194 (Note: B. subtilis is used as an Anthrax surrogate).

Lighthart, B., K.R. Prier, G.M. Loper, and J.J. Bromenshenk. 2000. Bees scavenge airborne bacteria. Microb. Ecol. 39:314-321.

Barisic, D., A.Vertacnik, J. J. Bromenshenk, N. Kezic, S. Luli, M. Hus, P. Kraljevic, M. Simpraga, and Z. Seletkovic. 1999. Radionuclides and selected elements in soil and honey from Gorski Kotar, Croatia. Apidologie 30: 277-287.

Bromenshenk, J.J., G.C. Smith, B.E. King, R.A. Seccomb, D.C. Jones, Michelle A. Taylor, C.B. Henderson, and C.L. Wrobel. 2002. New and Improved Methods for Monitoring Air Quality and the Terrestrial Environment: Applications at Aberdeen Proving Ground-Edgewood Area. Peer-reviewed Annual Report, U.S. Army Center for Environmental Health Research, Ref. Number DAMD17-95-C5072. 115 pp.

Bromenshenk, J. and H. Gardner. 1998. Honeybees and Bluegills Used for Environmental Monitoring. EPA Tech Trends, EPA 542-N-98-009 (31): 2.

Bromenshenk, J.J., R.C. Cronn, and J.J. Nugent. 1996. Monitoring Fluoride with Honey Bees in the Upper Snake River Plain of Idaho, Journal of Environmental Quality 6:35-47.

Bromenshenk, J.J., G.C. Smith, and V.J. Watson. 1995. Assessing Ecological Risks in Terrestrial Systems with Honey Bees. In: Biomonitors and Biomarkers as Indicators of Environmental Change, F.M. Butterworth, L.D. Corkum, and J. Guzman-Rincon, eds. Plenum Press Chapter 2:9-30.

Bromenshenk, J.J.; B. Lighthart, R.L. McGraw II, M.R. Loeser, B. Birch, and P.J. Bowman. 1996. Real-time Monitoring of MPCA Hazards to Honey Bees in a Microbial Containment Flight Chamber. In: Biotechnology Risk Assessment: USEPA/USDA/Environment Canada/Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, M.A. Levin and J.S. Angle, eds. University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, MD. 361-375.

Bromenshenk, J.J., S.R. Carlson, J.C. Simpson, and J.M. Thomas. 1985. Pollution Monitoring of Puget Sound with Honey Bees, SCIENCE 227:632-634.