Research Associate Professor;
Curator, State Arboretum of Virginia
Ph.D., Auburn
University, 1999.

RESEARCH AREA
Plant-pollinator
interactions;
evolutionary ecology;
habitat fragmentation;
bee biology.

CONTACT:
T’ai H. Roulston
Blandy Experimental Farm
University of Virginia
400 Blandy Farm Lane
Boyce, VA 22620
540 837-1758 ext. 276 tai.roulston@virginia.edu


River crossing in Democratic Republic of Congo

T'ai H. Roulston
Blandy Experimental Farm
Department of Environmental Sciences
University of Virginia

My primary research area is plant-pollinator interactions, which I study through field and laboratory approaches. These include

(i) Studies of pollen chemistry, particularly protein, to characterize the diversity of pollen nutrient rewards and their effects on pollinator host plant choice and larval development;

(ii) Specialization/Generalization in plant-pollinator interactions

Other research areas include endangered species conservation, habitat fragmentation, foraging behavior and nestmate recognition in social Hymenoptera, and the impact of exotic species on native organisms.

Current or recent student research in my lab.

Go to the Blandy Bee Diversity Page


Current Grants

Roulston, T.H., and M. Mckenna. 2008-2012. REU Site: Field Ecology at the University of Virginia's Blandy Experimental Farm. $334,188. NSF Award No. DBI 0755198

Carr, D.E., Roulston, T.H. and K. Haynes. A New Laboratory for Blandy Experimental Farm. NSF Award Number DBI 1034846. $350,000.

Publications


Large sweat bee (Lasioglossum zephyrym) reared on protein rich pollen, small bee reared on protein poor pollen


Specialist bee (Colletes latitarsis) collecting pollen from its host, Physalis subglabrata.


Epeolus bifasciatus, a common cleptoparasite of Colletes latitarsis Bee is being held for marking.



Female of Eucera hamata, a common spring bee at Blandy.