Andrea Brown
Papers
1
Total Citations
290
H-Index
1
About
Andrea Brown is a leading behavioral ecologist whose research illuminates how environmental stressors disrupt the social fabric of insect societies. Her most cited work, a landmark 2018 study with 290 citations, reveals that neonicotinoid pesticide exposure fundamentally dismantles bumblebee colony function. Using an innovative robotic platform for continuous monitoring, she demonstrated that imidacloprid doesn't just kill bees—it corrupts their social networks, disrupts nest thermoregulation, and alters critical worker behaviors. This mechanistic insight explained why colonies fail to grow under pesticide stress, shifting the conversation from toxicity to behavioral disruption. Brown's research bridges neurobiology, ecology, and conservation, showing how sublethal exposures can cascade through complex social systems. Her work has been instrumental in informing pesticide regulation debates, providing policymakers with evidence that even low-level exposures threaten pollinator health. By combining cutting-edge technology with classic ethological observation, Brown has redefined how we study the hidden impacts of anthropogenic change on social insects, making her a pivotal voice in pollinator conservation science.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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