Marla Spivak
Education
B.A. Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA, 1978, Biology
Ph.D University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 1989, Entomology
2010 MacArthur Fellow
Teaching
UMN Courses
- Ent 4021 Honey Bees and Insect Societies (Fall semester, odd years)
Beekeeping Courses for the Public (register through www.beelab.umn.edu):
- Beekeeping in Northern Climates Short Course, twice yearly
- Successful Honey Bee Queen Rearing Short Course, every July
- Beyond the Basics, every April
Research
The goal of our bee research in the Spivak lab is to promote the health of all bees. Our primary research focus is on honey bees, ranging from basic studies on mechanisms of social immunity and behavior, to applied studies on bee breeding and management.
Select Publications
For more, including Extension publications: www.beelab.umn.edu
Carr-Markell MK, Demler CM, Cuvillon MJ, Schurch R, Spivak, M. 2020. Do honey bee (Apis mellifera) foragers recruit their nestmates to native forbs in reconstructed prairie habitats? PlosOne. 15(2): e0228169. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228169
Spivak M, Goblirsch, M, Simone-Finstrom M. 2019 Social-medication in bees: The line between individual and social regulation. Curr. Opinion Insect Science 33:49-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cois.2019.02.009 (If you cannot access this, email for a copy)
Lee, KV, Goblirsch M, McDermott E, Tarpy DR, Spivak M. 2019. Is the brood patterns within a honey bee colony a reliable indicator of queen quality? Insects 10, 12; doi:10.3390/insects10010012
Evans E, Smart M, Cariveau D, Spivak M. 2018. Wild, native bees and managed honey bees benefit from similar agricultural land uses. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 268: 162-170.
Borba RS, Spivak M. 2017. Propolis envelope in Apis mellifera colonies supports honey bees against the pathogen, Paenibacillus larvae. Sci. Reports 7:11429. DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-11689-w
Simone-Finstrom M, Borba RS, Wilson M, Spivak M. 2017 Propolis counteracts some threats to honey bee health. Review. Insects 8: 46: DOI:10.3390/insects8020046
Borba RS Klyczek KK, Mogen KL, Spivak M. 2015 Seasonal benefits of a natural propolis envelope to honey bee immunity and colony health. J. Exp. Biol. doi:10.1242/jeb.127324
Wilson MB, Spivak M, Hegeman AD, Rendahl A, Cohen JD. 2013. Metabolomics reveals the origins of antimicrobial resins collected by honey bees. PLoSOne 8(10): e77512. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0077512
Spivak, M, Browning Z, Goblirsch M, Lee K, Otto C, Smart M, Wu-Smart J. 2017 Why does bee health matter? The science surrounding honey bee health concerns and what we can do about it. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) Commentary, QTA2017. CAST, Ames, Iowa.
Goblirsch MJ, Spivak MS, Kurtti TJ. 2013. A cell line resource derived from Honey bee (Apis mellifera) embryonic tissue. PLoS One 8(7) e69831.
Books:
Can be purchased through www.beelab.umn.edu
Mader, E., Spivak, M., Evans, E. 2010 in press. Managing Alternative Pollinators: A Handbook for Growers, Beekeepers and Conservationists. NRAES/ SARE Publication. 250pp.
Evans, E., Burns, I., Spivak, M. 2007. Befriending Bumble Bees: A Practical Guide to Raising Local Bumble Bees. 65pp. ***ALA Godort 2008 Notable Government Document Award Winner.
Furgala, B., Spivak, M., Reuter, G.S. 2013 (updated). Beekeeping in Northern Climates: Short Course Manual. 75pp.
Spivak, M., Reuter, G.S. 2013 (updated). Honey bee diseases and pests. 32pp.
Spivak, M., Reuter, G.S. 1993. Successful Queen Rearing Short Course Manual. 75pp.
Spivak M, Fletcher DJC, Breed MD, editors. 1991. The “African” Honey Bee. Westview Press, Boulder, Colorado. 450 pp.
Awards
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2017 Entomological Society of America Fellow
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2016 Siehl Laureate for Excellence in Agriculture, University of Minnesota
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2016 WINGS WorldQuest Women of Discovery Earth Award
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2015 AgriGrowth Council of MN: Distinguished Service Award to Minnesota’s Food and Agricultural Industry
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2013 Univ Minnesota Extension: Dean’s Award for Distinguished Campus-Based Faculty
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2010 MacArthur Fellowship, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Students Advised
Current
- Maggie Shanahan, PhD
- Hollie Wall Dalenberg, Masters
Past
M.S.
- James Wolfin, 2019 (Co-advised with Dr. Eric Watkins, Horticulture)
- Ian Lane, 2015 (Co-advised with Dr. Eric Watkins, Horticulture)
- Joel Gardner, 2013 (Co-Advised with Dr. Ralph Holzenthal)
- Kathleen Lee, 2009
- Jodi Swanson, 2008
- Katarzyna Goode, 2005
- Angie Ambourn, 2004
- Elaine Evans, 2001
Ph.D.
- Morgan Carr-Markell, 2020
- Kathleen Lee, 2018
- Elaine Evans, 2016
- Renata Borba 2015
- Judy Wu-Smart 2015
- Matthew Smart, 2015
- Michael Simone, 2010
- Abdullah Ibrahim, 2005
- Ian Burns, 2004
- Rebecca Masterman, 2000
PostDoc
- Mike Goblirsch 2015-2020
- Erin Treiber, 2017-2019
- Michael Wilson, 2017-2019
- Sainath Suryanarayanan, 2009-2011
- Arathi, 1998-2000
- Katia Gramacho, 2000