Dr. Stephen F. Pernal

Image Stephen Pernal
Research Scientist

National Lead, Apiculture Research Program

Officer-in-Charge, Beaverlodge Research Farm

Current research and/or projects

  • BeeCSI: ‘Omic Tools for Assessing Bee Health (Genome Canada LSARP)
  • American Foulbrood Disease Surveillance and Management
  • IPM of Varroa Mites Using Novel Compounds
  • Emerging Threats to Pollinators
  • Honey Bee Health and Blueberry Pollination
  • Plant Virus Surveillance Using Honey Bees
  • NGS of Bees and Pollen for Biosurveillance of Agricultural Pathogens and Invasive Species

Research and/or project statements

My lab’s current research addresses the following:

  •  Developing a real-time diagnostic tool for evaluating bee health.
  •  Improving the detection and management of American Foulbrood Disease to prevent outbreaks.
  •  Evaluating new compounds for the control of Varroa mites.
  •  Evaluating the impact of novel trypanosome parasites on honey bees.
  •  Examining the health of honey bees in pollination systems.
  •  Using honey bees as a surveillance tool for invasive plant and bee pathogens.

Professional activities / interests

  • Canadian Member of the Network for the Investigation and Prevention of Colony Losses (COLOSS)
  • National Honey Bee Health Round Table – Steering Committee Member
  • Alberta Beekeepers Technical Transfer Program - Steering Committee Member          
  • National Bee Diagnostic Centre - Advisory Board Member
  • Graduate Supervisor at University of Alberta and University of Manitoba

Education and awards

Education:

  • B.Sc. (Spec.) Zoology, Brandon University (1989)
  • M.Sc. Entomology, University of Manitoba (1992)
  • Ph.D. Apiculture, University of Manitoba (2001)

Awards:

  • James I. Hambleton Award for Outstanding Apicultural Research - Eastern Apicultural Society of North America (2022)
  • Achievement Award, Alberta Beekeepers’ Commission (2019)
  • North American Pollinator Protection Campaign – Honorary Host Committee (2019, 2018)
  • AAFC Gold Harvest Award - for Innovation, Collaboration and Service Excellence (2017)
  • Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal - for Excellence in Public and Community Service (2013)

International experience and/or work

  • Scientific Program Chair of the 46th Apimondia International Apicultural Congress and Canadian Representative to the International Federation of Beekeepers' Associations
  • USDA-AAFC Joint Priority Areas of Research Collaborations - Canadian National Lead on Pollinator Health

Key publications

  1. Walsh EM, Paillard M, Giovenazzo P, Pernal SF (2021) Honey bee (Apis mellifera) social immunity behaviours: Variance between domestic stocks and effect on chalkbrood (Ascosphaera apis) infection. Entomology 2021, Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, 31 Oct - 3 Nov 2021, Denver, CO. (In-Person and Virtual Meeting).

    2021 - View publication details

  2. Claing G, Kempers M, Kennedy K, Kozak P, Lafrenière R, Maund C, Menzies C, Muirhead S, Nasr M, Ovinge L, Pernal S, Sproule J, van Westendorp P, Wilson G, Hoover S (2021) CAPA statement on honey bee wintering losses in Canada (2021).
    https://capabees.com/shared/CAPA-Statement-on-Colony-Losses-2020-2021.pdf

    2021 - View publication details

  3. Pernal SF, Guarna MM (2021) Research Report. Emerging threats to pollinators. Proceedings of the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists, p. 97-98, 25-26 Jan 2021. (Virtual) (Abstract)

    2021 - View publication details

  4. Pernal SF, Wolf Veiga P (2021) Research Report. AFB surveillance and management. Proceedings of the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists, p. 101-102, 25-26 Jan 2021. (Virtual) (Abstract)

    2021 - View publication details

  5. Claing G, Kempers M, Kennedy K, Kozak P, Lafrenière R, Maund C, Menzies C, Muirhead S, Nasr M, Ovinge L, Pernal S, Sproule J, van Westendorp P, Wilson G, Hoover S (2021) CAPA preliminary report on honey bee wintering losses in Canada (2021). Hivelights 34(3):16 – 17.
    https://capabees.com/shared/CAPA-preliminary-report-on-winter-losses-new-1.pdf

    2021 - View publication details

  6. Claing G, Kempers M, Kennedy K, Kozak P, Lafrenière R, Maund C, Menzies C, Muirhead S, Nasr M, Ovinge L, Pernal S, Sproule J, van Westendorp P, Wilson G, Hoover S (2020) CAPA statement on honey bee wintering losses in Canada (2020). Hivelights 34(2): 17-29.
    https://capabees.com/shared/CAPA-Statement-on-Colony-Losses-2020.pdf

    2021 - View publication details

  7. Gregoris A, Higo H, Wolf Veiga P, Ibrahim A, Common J, Pernal SF, Foster LJ, Bixby M, Guarna MM. (2020) European foulbrood may affect availability of honey bee colonies in pollination-deficient blueberry farms. Entomology 2020, 68th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, virtual meeting. 11-25 November 2020.

    2020 - View publication details

  8. MacInnis, C.I., Keddie, B.A., Pernal, S.F. (2020). Nosema ceranae (Microspora: Nosematidae): A Sweet Surprise? Investigating the Viability and Infectivity of N. ceranae Spores Maintained in Honey and on Beeswax. Journal of Economic Entomology, [online] 113(5), 2069-2078. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jee/toaa170

    2020 - View publication details

  9. Claing G, Kempers M, Kennedy K, Kozak P, Lafrenière R, Maund C, Menzies C, Muirhead S, Nasr M, Ovinge L, Pernal S, Sproule J, van Westendorp P, Wilson G, Hoover S (2020) CAPA statement on honey bee wintering losses in Canada (2020). https://capabees.com/shared/CAPA-Statement-on-Colony-Losses-2020.pdf

    2020 - View publication details

  10. Bixby, M., Hoover, S.E., McCallum, R., Ibrahim, A., Ovinge, L., Olmstead, S., Pernal, S.F., Zayed, A., Foster, L.J., Guarna, M.M. (2020). Honey Bee Queen Production: Canadian Costing Case Study and Profitability Analysis. Journal of Economic Entomology, [online] 113(4), 1618-1627. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jee/toaa102

    2020 - View publication details

  11. Pernal SF, Guarna MM (2020) Research Report. Emerging threats to pollinators. Proceedings of the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists, p. 97-98, 21 Jan 2020, Ottawa, ON. (Abstract)

    2020 - View publication details

  12. Pernal SF, Wolf Veiga P (2020) Research Report. AFB surveillance and management. Proceedings of the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists, p. 106-107, 21 Jan 2020, Ottawa, ON. (Abstract)

    2020 - View publication details

  13. Pernal SF, Borba RS, Hoover SE, Currie RW, Guarna MM, Zayed A, Foster LJ (2019) Investigating colony-level health traits in Canada’s honey bee population Proceeding of the 2019 American Bee Research Conference, 10-12 Jan 2019, Tempe, AZ. Insects 11(2), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11020088

    2020 - View publication details

  14. Adamidis, G.C., Cartar, R.V., Melathopoulos, A.P., Pernal, S.F., Hoover, S.E. (2019). Pollinators enhance crop yield and shorten the growing season by modulating plant functional characteristics: A comparison of 23 canola varieties. Scientific Reports, [online] 9(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-50811-y

    2019 - View publication details

  15. Pernal SF, Borba S, Hoover SE, Currie RW, Guarna MM, Zayed A, Foster LJ (2019) Novel Markers for Honey Bee Selection and Breeding. Entomology 2019, 67th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, 17-20 Nov 2019, St. Louis, MO. https://esa.confex.com/esa/2019/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/144719

    2019 - View publication details

  16. Ferland J, Kempers M, Kennedy K, Kozak P, Lafrenière R, Maund C, Menzies C, Muirhead S, Nasr M, Pernal S, Sproule J, van Westendorp P, Wilson G (2019) CAPA statement on honey bee wintering losses in Canada (2019). Hivelights 32(4) 13, 15, 17-20. http://www.capabees.com/shared/2018-2019-CAPA-Statement-on-Colony-Losses.pdf

    2019 - View publication details

  17. Soares Borba R, Hoover S, Currie R, Giovenazzo P, Guarna MM, Foster L, Zayed A, Pernal SF (2019) Soares Borba R, Hoover S, Currie R, Giovenazzo P, Guarna MM, Foster L, Zayed A, Pernal SF (2019) Disentangling the honey bee pathogen-web and its dynamics on colony productivity, health phenotypes and social immunity behaviours. Proceedings of the 46th Apimondia International Apicultural Congress, p. 52-53, 8-12 Sep 2019, Montréal, QC.

    2019 - View publication details

  18. Bixby M, Hoover S, Pernal SF, Guarna M (2019) Queen breeding in Canada: an overview. Proceedings of the 46th Apimondia International Apicultural Congress, p. 138-139, 8-12 Sep 2019, Montréal, QC.

    2019 - View publication details

  19. Hoover S, Ovinge L, Kearns J, Ibrahim A, Guarna MM, Pernal SF, Wolf Veiga P. (2019) Quality and performance of imported and domestic queens. Proceedings of the 46th Apimondia International Apicultural Congress, p. 88, 8-12 Sep 2019, Montréal, QC.

    2019 - View publication details

  20. Higo H, Common J, Ibrahim A, Wolf Veiga P, Gregoris A, Pernal SF, McAfee A, Vinson B, Pettis JS, Foster LJ, Guarna MM (2019) Towards best farming practices in BC blueberries to ensure bee health and good pollination. Proceedings of the 46th Apimondia International Apicultural Congress, p. 66, 8-12 Sep 2019, Montréal, QC.

    2019 - View publication details

Research facility

6000 C and E Trail
Lacombe, AB T4L 1W1
Canada

Expertise

Affiliations

  • Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists - Member and Former President
  • Entomological Society of Canada
  • Entomological Society of America
  • American Association of Professional Apiculturists
  • Alberta Beekeepers Commission / Canadian Honey Council / Alberta Honey Producers Cooperative – Registered Member

Language

English