Naomi E. Pierce
Papers
1
Total Citations
290
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1
About
Naomi E. Pierce is a pioneering evolutionary biologist whose research bridges ecology, behavior, and conservation, with a particular focus on insect–plant interactions and the impacts of environmental stressors on social insects. Her work has fundamentally advanced our understanding of how neonicotinoid pesticides disrupt colony health, as exemplified by her highly cited 2018 study (290 citations) that used an automated robotic platform to reveal how imidacloprid impairs bumblebee nest behavior, social networks, and thermoregulation—providing critical mechanistic insights into colony decline. Beyond this, Pierce has made landmark contributions to the evolutionary ecology of mutualisms, especially between butterflies and ants, and has been a leading voice in biodiversity science. With over 20,000 citations to her name, she is a Professor of Biology and Curator of Lepidoptera at Harvard University, where she has mentored generations of scientists. Her work not only illuminates fundamental biological processes but also informs urgent conservation and policy decisions, making her a vital figure in both basic and applied ecology.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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