The University of Montana-Missoula

The University of Montana has unique indoor and outdoor facilities for assessing the cumulative effects of anthropogenic and natural stressors, including MPCAs, on honey bee colonies. We have a security-fenced apiary on the campus. The apiary has stands to keep colonies out of reach of skunks and other small predators. A heated 8x16 ft shed allows us to keep nucleus (small) colonies alive and available for testing throughout our cold Montana winters.

We have 15 electronic hives (and intend to build 30) equipped with bidirectional counters that track every bee flying in or out of the colonies. Electronic sensors continuously monitor conditions such as (e.g., temperature, relative humidity, air flow) inside each hive as well as changes in the weight of the entire unit. These hives are fitted with chemical sensors for examining volatile chemical in hive atmospheres and clock-driven traps that collect pollen every 15 minutes.

Banks of portable computers inside metal tool boxes log colony performance and hive data. Electronic weather stations continuously monitor meteorological conditions. Artificial neural network software, a form of pattern recognizing artificial intelligence, helps us correlate bee activities with food availability and weather conditions.

We have developed protocols indoor containment facilities to assay exotic or genetically engineered pathogens for hazards to bees. Containment of microbial pathogens is accomplished by using a portable, negative pressure, HEPA-filtered (air input and extract filtered to 99.997% D.O.P. 3 microns, with water filter filtration to 0.2 micron) walk-in isolation chamber. This Environmental Control Module (ECM) is a 2.2mx2.8mx2.2m clear plastic bubble hung on a stainless steel frame. An external rack holds banks of high UV output lamps that are equipped with electronic ballasts energy efficiency and to increase the rate of lamp flicker above the bees' visual threshold. Six HEPA-filtered flight chambers (small wind tunnels) fit inside the ECM.

Nucleus colonies inside plexiglass hives are continuously monitored by a computer system. Each of these hives is equipped with an array of sensors similar to those of our outdoor electronic hives. In addition, we are able to conduct digital sound recordings of the colonies in the flight chambers. The computer data acquisition system (DAC) also serves to continuously adjust and monitor environmental conditions inside the chamber.

The Gordon Environmental Sciences Laboratory (GESL) in the Botany Building serves as a staging and preparation area for a wide array of environmental investigations. A full compliment of chemical analytical facilities for organic chemicals is available through Dr. Smith's laboratory in the Department of Chemistry where we have concentrated our instrumentation. Additional instrumentation such as ICAPS (inductively coupled argon spectrophotometry) can be accessed in the Department of Geology. Microbiology laboratories are close at hand in the Health Sciences building, where Dr. Bromenshenk has his office. The isolation chamber is in a windowless, secure area in the top of a separate building. Thus, each of the major activities is isolated in a dedicated facility, which decreases chances of cross-contamination.

The GESL of the Division of Biological Sciences is equipped for a wide array of environmental research. The laboratory was established to promote environmental education and research in the 1960s by the late Dr. Clarence C. Gordon, a plant pathologist. In addition to our honey bee research, the laboratory has hosted numerous air pollution-plant stress studies, aquatic ecosystems research, and investigations of the spread and control of noxious weeds.

Thus, it should be apparent that we have bees, colonies, and specialized equipment that facilitates studies that could not be attempted with more conventional setups.