Armando Ponte

Honours B.Sc. in Biology
York University
Email: armando1@yorku.ca

Research Interests

Armando recently completed his undergraduate Honours thesis in the Packer lab. For his thesis, Armando assessed levels of Diploid Male Production (DMP) in two local bee populations, Osmia pumila and Osmia caerulescens, in the Greater Toronto Area. Diploid male production constitutes a large genetic load for bee species and is a potential contributor of ongoing bee decline. Levels of DMP were quantified using molecular genetic research tools including, primer optimization, Polymerase Chain Reaction, gel electrophoresis and microsatellite fragment analysis. For this work, he was awarded the 2012-2013 AGSBS Dean's Honours Thesis Prize (one of two winners).

Currently, Armando is examining and comparing levels of genetic diversity in O. caerulescens throughout its native and introduced range; Europe and North America, respectively. Results from this project may provide information on the ability of O. caerulescens to thrive or succumb in an environment where it has little evolutionary history.

Directions

No clue, call my mom.