Creation Date
5-12-2026
Degree
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Major(s)
Biochemistry
Document Type
Temporary Embargo for Patent/Proprietary Reasons then Open Access
Abstract
When beekeepers choose apiary locations for honey bees, they may do so without an understanding of the availability of floral resources that bees forage upon. Better understanding of floral resource availability would also aid researchers in choosing the right forage habitat as they aim to strengthen bee populations. The objective of this project is to create a database of pollen samples collected throughout the state of Mississippi that beekeepers and researchers can use to improve their knowledge of bee forage habitats. The database will show the phenology of numerous plant species. The project involves working with beekeepers as citizen scientists to obtain pollen samples from honey bee colonies every month. The samples are then color sorted and acetolyzed for plant identification. The long-term goal of the project is to capture the seasonal plant diversity across the region which can be good sources of pollen for all bee species. This project is part of a larger national pollen atlas project.
Date Defended
4-27-2026
Funding Source
USDA ARS
Thesis Director
Dr. Priya Basu
Second Committee Member
Dr. Jeff Harris
Third Committee Member
Dr. Tommy Anderson
Recommended Citation
Green, Claire E., "Creating a Phenology Wheel for Mississippi" (2026). Honors Theses. 203.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/honorstheses/203
