Jessamyn Manson

Jessamyn Manson is an Associate Professor of Biology at the University of Virginia. She holds a B.Sc. from the University of British Columbia and a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on plant-animal interactions, particularly the ecological and evolutionary dynamics between plants and their pollinators. She examines how floral rewards and defensive traits influence pollinator behavior, health, and community structures in both natural and agricultural ecosystems.

Her work combines field experiments, lab studies, and surveys to analyze the consequences of floral nectar chemistry on pollinator diversity, pathogen resistance, and plant fitness. Key areas include the role of nectar secondary metabolites in plant defense, herbivory effects on pollination, and pollinator community responses to land-use changes. Manson collaborates with institutions like the University of Alberta and the Mountain Lake Biological Station, engaging students in undergraduate research programs such as the REU.

Her research has led to insights on nectar alkaloid impacts on bumble bee health, the ecological significance of floral reward composition, and the drivers of pollinator diversity in prairie ecosystems. Manson’s findings contribute to understanding how plant-pollinator interactions shape ecological communities and inform conservation strategies in agroecosystems.