20216703443832
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Hover flies are common insects found throughout North America which provide multiple ecosystem services that can greatly benefit crop production and improve sustainable agriculture.
Adults are important pollinators for many global crops while larvae provide a diverse set of services from reducing environmental contamination via nutrient recycling to biological control of soft-bodied pests such as aphids.
Despite this, hover flies are often understudied and under-appreciated by the general public.
This postdoctoral research project will partially address three major limitations to capitalizing on hover fly (Diptera: Syrphidae) pollination and biological control services: 1) a lack of in-depth ecological knowledge of specific species, 2) a lack of familiarity with hover flies by the general public, and 3) a lack of information on regional species diversity.
These will be addressed through two objectives.
For Objective 1, we will seek to better understand the long-distance migratory strategies of the highly abundant, crucially important aphidophagous species Eupeodes americanus using a novel RADseq population genomics approach.
Large-scale seasonal migrations like these have major implications for farmers and other stakeholders because they determine whether certain crops will be successfully pollinated, and aphid pests will be suppressed.
Our aim is to examine the degree of genetic similarity and/or dissimilarity between populations across this species' range, thus allowing us to better understand migratory dynamics and implications for stakeholders.
Objective 2 is to collaborate with the Georgia Botanical Garden's Connect to Protect program to alleviate hover fly blindness among the general public and underrepresented communities by distributing educational materials including a Georgia species checklist and identification key.
By improving the public's knowledge on hover flies, people will be more inclined to appreciate and conserve these insects and the crucial benefits that they provide.
Adults are important pollinators for many global crops while larvae provide a diverse set of services from reducing environmental contamination via nutrient recycling to biological control of soft-bodied pests such as aphids.
Despite this, hover flies are often understudied and under-appreciated by the general public.
This postdoctoral research project will partially address three major limitations to capitalizing on hover fly (Diptera: Syrphidae) pollination and biological control services: 1) a lack of in-depth ecological knowledge of specific species, 2) a lack of familiarity with hover flies by the general public, and 3) a lack of information on regional species diversity.
These will be addressed through two objectives.
For Objective 1, we will seek to better understand the long-distance migratory strategies of the highly abundant, crucially important aphidophagous species Eupeodes americanus using a novel RADseq population genomics approach.
Large-scale seasonal migrations like these have major implications for farmers and other stakeholders because they determine whether certain crops will be successfully pollinated, and aphid pests will be suppressed.
Our aim is to examine the degree of genetic similarity and/or dissimilarity between populations across this species' range, thus allowing us to better understand migratory dynamics and implications for stakeholders.
Objective 2 is to collaborate with the Georgia Botanical Garden's Connect to Protect program to alleviate hover fly blindness among the general public and underrepresented communities by distributing educational materials including a Georgia species checklist and identification key.
By improving the public's knowledge on hover flies, people will be more inclined to appreciate and conserve these insects and the crucial benefits that they provide.
Funding Goals
NOT APPLICABLE
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Normal,
Illinois
61790-1100
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Related Opportunity
USDA-NIFA-AFRI-010613
Board Of Trustees Of Illinois State University was awarded
Project Grant 20216703443832
worth $16,262
from the Institute of Youth, Family, and Community in September 2024 with work to be completed primarily in Normal Illinois United States.
The grant
has a duration of 1 year and
was awarded through assistance program 10.310 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 10/3/24
Period of Performance
9/16/24
Start Date
9/15/25
End Date
Funding Split
$16.3K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$16.3K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
20216703443832
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Public/State Controlled Institution Of Higher Education
Awarding Office
12348V INSTITUTE OF YOUTH, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY (IYFC)
Funding Office
12348V INSTITUTE OF YOUTH, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY (IYFC)
Awardee UEI
V6WTL4T5FFJ3
Awardee CAGE
9W168
Performance District
IL-17
Senators
Richard Durbin
Tammy Duckworth
Tammy Duckworth
Modified: 10/3/24