Bitter Nectar, Toxic Pollen: Pollinators and Plant Chemicals

We’ve spent some time on this podcast discussing pollinators and their life histories but today we are taking a deeper dive into plant chemistry to better understand the relationship between pollinators and their floral resources.To help us explore this fascinating topic, is Leif Richardson, Xerces Endangered Species Conservation Biologist. Leif coordinates the California Bumble Bee Atlas project. His research focuses on the ecology, distribution, and declines of North American bumble bees. Leif is also the co-author of a range of scientific publications on bees, including Bumble Bees of North America: An Identification Guide. He holds a Master’s degree from the University of Arizona and a PhD from Dartmouth College.---Photo credit: Barbara Driscoll (c)Thank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.