Bryan Nicholas Danforth

Bryan Nicholas Danforth is a Professor in the Department of Entomology at Cornell University, where he leads research on bee phylogenetics, evolution, and conservation. He directs the Danforth Lab, focusing on phylogenomics, native pollinator biodiversity, bee-microbe interactions, and agricultural pollination ecology. His work has significant implications for managing pollinator declines in New York State.

His research encompasses:

• Evolutionary relationships of bees using molecular and morphological data
• Native bee population genetics in agricultural landscapes
• Impact of climate change on specialist bee species
• Microbial ecology of solitary bee brood cells
• Role of wild bees in apple pollination systems

Analysis of his recent publications (2015-2024) reveals strong emphasis on pollinator ecology, evolutionary adaptations, and conservation genetics, with methodologies spanning field surveys, phylogenomics, and landscape ecology. His work consistently addresses anthropogenic threats to pollinators while developing conservation strategies.

He advises graduate students researching:

• Megachilidae phylogeny (Jessica Litman)
• Apidae evolution (Sophie Cardinal)
• Native bee population genetics (Margarita Lopez-Uribe)
• Apple pollination ecology (Mia Park)

His lab secures significant funding including:

• Cornell Atkinson Center sustainability grant for Project GNBee
• NE-SARE grant for agricultural research
• USDA-funded land-grant research ($1.6M consortium)
• Empire State Native Pollinator Survey support

He teaches 'Alien Empire: Bizarre Biology of Bugs' (ENTOM 2010/2011) and 'Insect Phylogeny and Evolution' (ENTOM 3310/3311), employing multimedia resources to engage students. He also co-organizes The Bee Course, an intensive workshop for biologists.