Behaviour Ecology Evolution Lab

Foraging efficiency in bumble beesAnimal fitness is linked to foraging efficiency, shaped by cognitive abilities and physiological traits. In social insects like ants, termites, and social bees, the division of labour is key to their colony success. Bumblebees, with their primitively eusocial structure, are an ideal model for studying how foraging behaviour, flight energetics, and cognitive skills influence colony fitness. My focus is on how factors such as age, health, and wing wear may influence their foraging and flight behaviour.My research combines traditional methods such as classical conditioning, flight mill assays and gene expression analysis with innovative approaches such as life-long behavioural tracking using RFID technology. By investigating how environmental stressors, such as parasites and climate change, impact bumblebees' foraging behaviour, I aim to enhance our understanding of the challenges bees face and their implications for colony fitness.Exciting NEWS (02/2025)
In the newly funded DFG project, Sublethal effects of an emerging infectious disease on foraging efficiency in bumblebees, we will expand our research on this topic by using RFID-enabled robotic flowers.Collaborators: PD Dr. Tomer Czaczkes (UR), Prof. Dr. Robert Paxton (MLU Halle), and Prof. Dr. Tom Wenseleers (KU Leuven)

Impact of environmental stressors on bee life-historyEnvironmental stressors like heatwaves, resource scarcity, and pollution are increasingly threatening species, including bumblebees, as climate change and human activities amplify these challenges. I am particularly interested in how heatwaves, starvation, pesticide interactions (with adjuvants), and urbanisation affect bumblebee life history and colony fitness.My research includes both controlled lab experiments (classical conditioning, in-vitro rearing, and cage studies) and field experiments (observations and sampling). The goal is to provide insights into how these stressors may impact bee populations in a rapidly changing world.Exciting papers in preparation – stay tuned!Collaborators: Dr. Panagiotis Theodorou (MLU Halle), Prof. Dr. Robert Paxton (MLU Halle), and Prof. Dr. Erhard Strohm (UR)

Disease transmission dynamicsWhile group living enhances individual fitness, it also increases the risk of disease transmission. Despite our understanding of how group size, built environment, and social interactions influence disease transmission in humans has advanced, much of the existing research is correlational. To address this gap, I conducted my largest and most challenging experiment to date during my Feodor-Lynen fellowship (funded by the Alexander von Humboldt foundation). I have studied the spatial spread and transmission of a GFP-labeled fungal pathogen in 108 black carpenter ant nests as a model system. With invaluable support from my collaborators Dr. Danny Ziyi Chen (University of Notre Dame), Dr. Yizhe Zhang (Nanjing University), we tracked individual movements and their trophallaxis (mouth-to-mouth food sharing) behaviour by training a deep learning algorithm. This allows us to relate spore spread within the nest and transmission between individuals based on movement patterns and social network data. My goal is to provide insights that will enhance our ability to predict transmission dynamics in more complex scenarios.Due to time constraints, this project has been temporarily paused but will be resumed soon.Collaborators: Prof. Dr. David Hughes (Penn State University), Prof. Dr. Ephraim Hanks (Penn State University), Prof. Dr. Danny Ziyi Chen (University of Notre Dame), Dr. Yizhe Zhang (Nanjing University)Previous projects: During my PhD at Molecular Ecology Lab (Prof. Dr. Dr. hc Robin F.A. Moritz, MLU Halle), I investigated the molecular interplay between the intestinal parasite Nosema ceranae and its honeybee host, Apis mellifera. Following that, I contributed to a field study on the Zombie ant fungus (Ophiocordyceps) in Brazil as PostDoc at the Hughes lab (Penn State University).

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Dr. Christoph Kurze
BEE Lab Team Leader
University RegensburgBrief CV

Teaching contributions at UR54105 – Practical “Formenkenntnis und Systematik von Tieren”
54105 – Field course “Formenkenntnis und Systematik von Tieren”
54104 – Lecture “Formenkenntnis und Systematik von Tieren”
54128 – Practical “Molekulare Ökologie & Evolutionäre Biologie”
54102 – Practical “Zytologie und Anatomie der Tiere”
54102 – Lecture “Zytologie und Anatomie der Tiere”
54522 – Seminar “Bee health”
54522 – Essay and poster assignments
54532 – Practical “Projektpraktikum: Molekulare und Evolutionäre Ökologie” at BSc level
54540 – BSc practical “Forschungspraktikum: Molekulare und Evolutionäre Ökologie”
54541 – MSc practical “Laborpraktikum: Molecular ecology of insect-microbe interactions”
54538 – MSc practical “Laborpraktikum: Functional morphology”
54547 – MSc practical “Laborpraktikum: Molecular and Evolutionary Ecology”
Supervision of MSc theses, BSc theses and ZulassungsarbeitenCollaborationsOngoing collaborations: PD Dr. Tomer Czaczkes (UR), Prof. Dr. Erhard Strohm (UR), Prof. Dr. Joachim Ruther (UR), Prof. Dr. Robert Paxton (MLU Halle), Prof. Dr. David Hughes (Penn State University), Prof. Dr. Ephraim Hanks (Penn State University), Prof. Dr. Danny Ziyi Chen (University of Notre Dame), Dr. Yizhe Zhang (Nanjing University), Prof. Dr. Tom Wenseleers (KU Leuven), Heike Ismer (Gartenamt Regensburg/City council of Regensburg), Prof. Dr. Guntima Suwannapong (Burapha University)Previous collaborations: Dr. Panagiotis Theodorou (MLU Halle), Prof. Dr. Boris Baer (CIBER/UWA, now UC Riverside), Dr. Ryan Dosselli (CIBER/UWA), Dr. Yves Le Conte (INRA Avignon), Dr. Per Kryger (Aarhus University), Dr. Janina Kleemann (MLU Halle), Prof. Dr. Christina Fürst (MLU Halle), Dr. Nina E. Jenkins (Penn State University), Dr. Thomas Müller (Universitätsklinikum Halle), Dr. Christopher Mayack (now USDA ARS), Prof. Gabriele I. Stangl (MLU Halle)Reviewing ActivitiesI participate in PeerCircle of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
Journals I have reviewed for include: PLoS Pathogens, Environmental Microbiology, Scientific Reports, Frontiers in Genetics, BMC Ecology, Environmental Microbiology Reports, Ecology & Evolution, Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, Insects, Journal of Apicultural Research, Economic Entomology, Journal of Insect ScienceInvited talks2024 • International Conference on Beekeeping for Sustainable Agriculture and Ecosystem Services, Chonburi, Thailand
2022 • online PhD seminar, Burapha University
2019 • Satellite Symposium at the 112th Annual Meeting of the German Zoological Society (DZG) “Microbes as drivers of animal intra- and interspecific interactions”, Jena, Germany
2016 • 25th International Congress of Entomology, Orlando, USA
2016 • SINNERS 7 meeting, Penn State University, USA
2016 • Evolution seminar, Christian Albrecht University of Kiel, Germany
2016 • 5th Host-Parasite Coevolution Symposium, Münster
2015 • North American Beekeeping Conference & Tradeshow of the American Beekeeping Federation (ABF), Anaheim, USA
2014 • 4th Host-Parasite Coevolution Symposium, near Kiel, Germany
2014 • International Congress on Invertebrate Pathology and Microbial Control & 47th Annual Meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology (SIP), Mainz, Germany
2013 • 3rd Host-Parasite Coevolution Symposium & RCNE meeting, near Berlin, GermanyOutreach and media coverage• Lastest News from our City Pollinator Conservation Project at Mittelbayerische Zeitung
• Heise Verlag
• Spektrum Wissenschaft Verlag
• Woche der Botanischen Gärten at UR
• The Great Insect Fair at Penn State University
• North American Beekeeping Conference & Tradeshow of the American Beekeeping Federation (ABF) in Anaheim (USA) 2015
• presentations for local bee keepers clubs (Imkervereine) in Sachsen-Anhalt and Thüringen

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Current team members
Franziska Altmann (MSc student)
Erik Köhler (MSc student)
Theresa Ranieri (MSc student)
Angelina Hacker (MSc student)
Lea Bayr (BSc student)
Julia Burger (BSc student)You are looking to join an exciting research project on bee health? We welcome applications from highly motivated, reliable individuals who are passionate about our research.Alumni at UR
Simone Antesberger (BSc student)
Maximillian Mandlinger (MSc student)
Julia Seidl (MA student, Lehramt)
Sophia Laimer (MA student, Lehramt)
Sarah Ossner (BSc student)
Lara Schreiber (MSc student)
Sandra Lausser (BSc student)
Laura Wögler (BSc student)
Milena Gilgenreiner (MA student, Lehramt)
Jonas Zetlmeisl (MA student, Lehramt)
Helena Schulte (BSc student)
Carolin Bäuml (BSc student)
Jia Li (BSc student)
Sara Humbs (BSc student)
Anna Greis (BSc student)
Julius Lechner (BSc student)
Janka Plate (BSc student)and numerous 3- and 6-week interns :)