M. "Kim" Fondrk in the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Michael 'Kim' Fondrk
M. Kim Fondrk is currently managing the Honey Bee Pollen Hoarding Selection Program at the UC Davis Honey Bee Research Facility under the direction of Robert E. Page Jr., Arizona State University. Pollen is the sole protein source for honey bees and is necessary for brood rearing and maintenance of within hive bee populations. Pollen is not available thoughout the year so hives must rely on pollen they have stored during abundant times to continue brood rearing during dearth periods. This is a two-way selection for High as well as Low pollen hoarding bees and the High stain hives store about 10 times the amount of pollen as Low strain hives. This selection has continued for 35 generations over 20 years and has provided test material for experiments that have resulted in numerous scientific publications which have added to our incite into the areas of genetics, neurophysiology, behavior and sensory perception.
Contact:
Kim Fondrk
Bee breeder-geneticst
Email: mkfondrk@ucdavis.edu
Phone: (530) 752-0189