Katja Hogendoorn

Dr Katja Hogendoorn

University Research Fellow

School of Agriculture, Food and Wine

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Research Interests

My fundamental research interests are in behavioural ecology and evolution of native bees, in particular related to mating, social and foraging behaviour. I also contribute to taxonomy and phylogeography of native bees.

My applied interests are in enhancing the environment for crop pollinating bees, development of native bees as greenhouse pollinators, the use of bees as vectors of biological control agents, and the conservation of native bees.

Promoting bee health and crop pollination

Our research focuses on the maintenance and enhancement of bees as pollinators of crops and native plants. We aim to improve management decisions to improve bee health, biodiversity, and crop pollination services, outside and in greenhouses. To achieve this, we try to better understand bee behaviour, including  foraging, nesting and mating behaviour, so their natural requirements can be better met. In addition,we aim to translate this information to beekeepers, growers of pollination dependent crops and restoration and land care managers, to improve landscape support for crop pollinators.

Currently, the group is heavily involved in a large collaboration between South Australian researchers, primary industries, governmental organisations and NGOs to design habitat for crop pollinators around, lucerne, apple/pear, canola, and almond. The project is supported through funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources as part of its Rural R&D for Profit Programme. We are also part of the newly started CRC for honey bee products, where we will investigate the potential for plantings in and among almond orchards for honey production.

Taxonomy

About 30% of Australian bees is as yet undescribed. We try to remedy this by describing new species. Another issue is that the known species are often difficult to identify because there is a great lack of experts, and only half are covered by identification keys. We try to offer a way out by raising funds to create a barcode library of all reliably identified species. In the future, this should enable anyone with molecular capability to identify Australian native bees.

Bees as Flying Doctors

We promote entomovectoring, i.e. the use of honey bees as flying doctors to the deliver biological control agents to flowers. This video explains some of the benefits of this method:

People
Our Research Group

Our group includes two postdocs: Scott Groom and Beth Fung, two PhD students and two honours students (see under supervision for names and projects).

Collaborations

In the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, I collaborate mainly with Eileen Scott, Mike Keller, Kate Delaporte, Carlos Rodriguez Lopez, Tim Cavagnaro, Cas Collins,

Other collaborators within the University of Adleiade, the SA Herbarium and Museum include: Andy Lowe, Phil Weinstein, Martin Breed, Nick Gellie, Ben Sparrow, Patrick O'Connor, Michelle Waycott (Herbarium), Remko Leijs and Mark Stevens (SA Museum)...further links to be added

Within Australia: Ben Oldroyd, Tanya Latty, Romina Rader, Saul Cunningham, Michael Batley, Tim Heard, Liz Barbour.

Internationally: Marten Scheffer (Wageningen), Hayo Velthuis (Wellseind), Heikki Hokkanen (Finland), Solange Augusto (Ueberlandia), Callin Switzer and Stacey Coombe (Harvard), Robert Paxton (Halle).

 

list of funding sources and amounts

Research bees, their behaviour and food. I supervise postgraduate students, but do not teach undergraduates.

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2021 Principal Supervisor The role and inheritance of bacteria in the Australian native resin bee, Megachile erythropyga Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Elisabeth Mary Williamson

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2016 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Aspects of the Interactions between Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) and Propagules of Plant Pathogens Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Jorgiane Benevenute Parish
    2015 - 2020 Principal Supervisor The Evolution of Diet Width in Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) (Halictidae, Apoidea), in Association with Speciation and Sensory Morphology Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Trace Akankunda
    2013 - 2017 Co-Supervisor RNA Viruses in Australian Bees Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Elisabeth Fung
    2010 - 2014 Co-Supervisor Buzzing bees and the evolution of sexual floral dimorphism in Australian spiny Solanum Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Arthur Selwyn Mark

  • Other Supervision Activities
    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2016 - 2017 Co-Supervisor Safeguarding native bee pollinators: evaluating management strategies for remnant vegetation adjacent to apple orchards in the Adelaide Hills The University of Adelaide BSc (Hons) Honours Full Time Amber Spronk

  • Board Memberships
    Date Role Board name Institution name Country
    2015 - ongoing Director Australian Entomological Society Australia

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2014 - ongoing Australasian Society for the Study of Social Insects
    2004 - ongoing Australian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour
    2001 - ongoing Australian Entomological Society

  • Editorial Boards
    Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
    2013 - 2017 Editor Arthropod-Plant Interactions
  • Position: University Research Fellow
  • Phone: 83136555
  • Email: katja.hogendoorn@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83137109
  • Campus: Waite
  • Building: Waite Building
  • Org Unit: School of Agriculture, Food and Wine - WT
Connect With Me
External Profiles