Cory S. SheffieldCory S. Sheffield

Research Associate, York University
Ph.D., Department of Environmental Biology, University of Guelph
M.Sc., Department of Biology, Acadia University
Honours B.Sc., Department of Biology, Acadia University
e-mail: corys@yorku.ca

Cory SheffieldResearch Interests:

Cory’s current research interests include studying the factors affecting bee diversity and community structure in multiple ecosystems, the factors linking pollination success within agricultural and natural plant communities, evaluation of ecosystem health through indicator taxa, and pollinator conservation. His current approach has been to integrate life history traits (i.e., guilds) of bee communities into diagnosing ecosystems, which has implications for pollinator conservation, monitoring ecosystem restoration, and habitat suitability.

Cory also studies animal physiology, particularly the wintering of bees, including aspects of physiology, using a wide range of statistics and mathematical ecology software packages, and imaging programs.

His additional research interests and strengths include bee taxonomy and systematics, with focus on the fauna of North America. This also includes mitochondrial DNA barcoding for bee species identification and the development of interactive species-level guides. Additionally, he also studies flower form and function relating to fruit development, and conservation of endangered plants and pollinators.

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Publications:

  • Sheffield, C.S., C. Ratti, L. Packer, and T. Griswold. Leafcutter and mason bees of the genus Megachile Latreille (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in Canada and Alaska. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification (accepted Mar 20, 2009; 200+ ms pages)
  • Packer, L., J. Gibbs, C. Sheffield, and R. Hanner. 2009. DNA Barcoding and the mediocrity of morphology. Molecular Ecology Resources 9 (suppl. 1): 42-50. [abstract]
  • Sheffield C.S., P.D.N. Hebert, P.G. Kevan, and L. Packer. 2009. DNA barcoding a regional bee (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) fauna and its potential for ecological studies. Molecular Ecology Resources 9 (suppl 1): 196-207. [abstract]
  • Gibbs, J. and C.S. Sheffield. 2009. Rapid range expansion of the Wool-Carder Bee, Anthidium manicatum (Linnaeus) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), in North America. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 82: 21-29. [abstract]
  • Sheffield, C.S., S.M. Westby, P.G. Kevan, and R.F. Smith. 2008.Winter management options for the orchard pollinator Osmia lignaria (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in Nova Scotia. Journal of the Entomological Society of Ontario 139: 3-18. [abstract]
  • Sheffield, C.S., S.M. Westby, R.F. Smith, and P.G. Kevan. 2008. Potential of bigleaf lupine for building and sustaining Osmia lignaria populations for pollination of apple. Canadian Entomologist 140: 589-599. [abstract]
  • Sheffield, C.S. 2008. Summer bees for spring crops? Potential problems with Megachile rotundata (Fab.) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) as a pollinator of lowbush blueberry (Ericaceae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 81: 276-287. [abstract]
  • Sheffield, C.S., P.G. Kevan, S.M. Westby, and R.F. Smith. 2008. Diversity of cavity-nesting bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) within apple orchards and wild habitats in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada. Canadian Entomologist 140: 235-249. [abstract]
  • Packer, L., J.A. Genaro, and C.S. Sheffield. 2007. The bee genera of eastern Canada. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification 3: 1-33. [Online]
  • Sheffield, C.S., and S.M. Westby. 2007. The male of Megachile nivalis Friese, with an updated key to members of the subgenus Megachile s. str. (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in North America. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 16: 178-191. [abstract]
  • Majka, C.G., T.K. Philips, and C. Sheffield. 2007. Ptinus sexpunctatus Panzer (Coleoptera: Anobiidae, Ptininae) newly recorded in North America. Entomolgical News 118: 73-76. [abstract]
  • Majka, C.G., D.S. Chandler, C.S. Sheffield, and R.P. Webster. 2006. New records of Rhipiphoridae (Coleoptera) from the Maritime Provinces of Canada. Coleopterists Bulletin 60: 299-303. [abstract]
  • Sheffield, C.S., R.F. Smith, and P.G. Kevan. 2005. Perfect syncarpy in apple (Malus x domestica 'Summerland McIntosh') and its implications for pollination, seed distribution and fruit production (Rosaceae: Maloideae). Annals of Botany 95: 583-591. [abstract]
  • Smith, R.F., J.E. Cossentine, S.M. Rigby and C.S. Sheffield. 2004. Species of ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in organic apple orchards of British Columbia. Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia 101: 49-55. [abstract]
  • Taki, H., J.W. Boone, B.F. Viana, F.O. Silva, P.G. Kevan, and C.S. Sheffield. 2004. Effect of shading on trap nest utilization by hole-nesting aculeate Hymenoptera. Canadian Entomologist 136: 889-891. [abstract]
  • Sheffield, C.S., S.M. Rigby, R.F. Smith, and P.G. Kevan. 2004. The rare cleptoparasitic bee Epeoloides pilosula (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Apidae) discovered in Nova Scotia, Canada, with distributional notes. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 77: 161-164. [abstract]
  • Sheffield, C.S., P.G. Kevan, R.F. Smith, S.M. Rigby, and R.E.L. Rogers. 2003. Bee Species of Nova Scotia, Canada, with New Records and Notes on Bionomics and Floral Relations (Hymenoptera: Apoidea). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 76: 357-384. [abstract]

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Cory SheffieldFavourite Recipe:

Verre d'eau

Ingredients:

  • Water

Directions

Turn tap on cold. Fill glass halfway. If in an optimistic mood, consider it half full. If in a pessimistic mood, consider it half empty and add scotch. Drink!

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Cory SheffieldFunniest Research Story:

Peeu

  • I once had a little girl tell me that she "did not like bees because they stink and it hurts".

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