Jason GibbsJason Gibbs

PhD, York University
MSc, University of Toronto
BSc, University of Toronto
e-mail: dialictus@gmail.com

Research Interests:Jason Gibbs

I am primarily interested in the taxonomy and phylogeny of bees. I am currently working on a taxonomic revision of Lasioglossum subgenus Dialictus in Canada and the Eastern United States. This group of bees is speciose and taxonomically challenging. There are over 600 described species worldwide and nearly half of these are in North America. They are notorious for being "morphologically monotonous" and next to impossible to identify to species. I use an integrative approach that combines morphological studies with DNA barcoding. DNA barcodes are short DNA sequences from a standardized gene that can be used to identify species and to recognize cryptic species. This integrative approach has identified numerous new species in both Canada and the USA (e.g. Gibbs 2009a) that will be formally named and described.

Dialictus also display an incredibly diverse array of social behaviours. Solitary, communal, semisocial, eusocial and socially parasitic species are known. Phylogenetic data suggests that reversals from eusocial to solitary behaviour have occurred in this group. A manuscript in preparation demonstrates that social parasitism has arisen twice in eastern North America. At least two other origins of social parasitism are known for Dialictus sensu lato (Gibbs 2009b).

Dialictus are also the most commonly collected bees in North America. In bee biodiversity studies, Dialictus are often the most abundant species. In some cases, over 50% of specimens collected are Dialictus.

My research aims to provide identification methods for Dialictus. Our current inability to identify these bees places large limitations on our understanding of bee biodiversity, pollination biology and the evolution of social behaviour in bees. DNA barcoding methods and technological advances in imaging equipment and internet resources should allow for the development of both molecular and morphological based identification methods.

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Publications:

  • Gibbs, J., (accepted 30 January 2010; submitted 21 September 2009). Revision of the metallic Dialictus of Canada (Hymenoptera: Halictidae: Lasioglossum). Zootaxa, 509 pp. [abstract]
  • Gibbs, J. (JKES 0806.16; submitted 14 June 2008; accepted 10 September 2008). An aberrant bee of the species Lasioglossum (Dialictus) disparile (Cresson) with brief taxonomic notes on the species. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 12pp. [abstract]
  • Gardiner, M., Tuell, J., Isaacs, R., Gibbs, J., Ascher, J.S. and Landis, D. 2010. Implications of three model biofuel crops for beneficial arthropods in agricultural landscapes. BioEnergy Research, 3, 6-19. [abstract]
  • Packer, L., Sheffield, C.S., Gibbs, J., de Silva, N., Best, L.R., Ascher, J., Ayala, R., Martins, D., Roberts, S.P.M., Tadauchi, O., Kuhlmann, M., Williams, P.H., Eardley, C., Droege, S. and Levchenko, T.V. 2009. The campaign to barcode the bees of the world: progress, problems, prognosis. In: C.L. Yurrita (Ed.) Memorias VI Congreso Mesoamericano sobre Abejas Nativas. Antigua, Guatemala, pp. 178-180.
  • Gibbs, J. 2009c. New species in the Lasioglossum petrellum species group identified through an integrative taxonomic approach. The Canadian Entomologist, 141: 371-396. [abstract]
  • Gibbs, J., Ascher, J.S. and Packer, L. 2009. Dialictus Robertson, 1902 and Evylaeus Robertson, 1902 (Insecta, Hymenoptera): proposed precedence over Hemihalictus Cockerell, 1897, Sudila Cameron, 1898 and Sphecodogastra Ashmead, 1899. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 66(2): 147-158. [abstract]
  • Gibbs, J. 2009b. A new cleptoparasitic Lasioglossum (Hymenoptera, Halictidae) from Africa. Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 18, 74-79. [abstract]
  • Packer, L., Gibbs, J., Sheffield, C. & Hanner, R. 2009. DNA barcoding and the mediocrity of morphology. Molecular Ecology Resources, 9(S1): 42-50. [abstract]
  • Gibbs, J. & Sheffield, C.S. 2009. Rapid Range Expansion of the Wool-Carder Bee, Anthidium manicatum (Linnaeus) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), in North America. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 82(1), 21-29. [abstract]
  • Gibbs, J. 2009a. Integrative taxonomy identifies new (and old) species in the Lasioglossum (Dialictus) tegulare (Robertson) (Hymenoptera, Halictidae) species group. Zootaxa, 2032, 1-38. [full text]
  • Packer, L., Gibbs, J., Sheffield, C., and Kevan, P. 2008. Barcoding the bees of the world. In: D. De Jong, T.M. Francoy, and W.C. Santana (Eds.) VIII Encontro sobre Abelhas. Ribeirão Preto: FUNPEC Editora, pp. 276-282. [abstract]
  • Gibbs, J. 2007. Integrative taxonomy of the bee subgenus Dialictus (Halictidae: Lasioglossum). Entomological Society of Ontario Newsletter, 12, 6-8. [full text]
  • Gibbs, J., and Packer, L. 2006. Revision and phylogenetic analysis of Chilicola sensu stricto (Hymenoptera: Colletidae) with the description of a new species. Zootaxa, 1355, 1-37. [full text]

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Favourite Recipe:

Bee bon-bonsXylocopa larva

Ingredients:

  • Xylocopa cells

Jason GibbsJason GibbsDirections:

  1. Open stem
  2. remove xylocopa larva
  3. slather with pollen mass
  4. enjoy!

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Funniest Research Story:

Border crossing:Jason Gibbs

While crossing into Montana, Cory and I informed the customs official that we on a trip to collect bees. We were handed a card with a bright red "B5" on it (it may have been "BS") and told to go inside and wait. A burly man in a uniform questioned why two Canadians (read the last word with a hint of disdain) would need to collect bees in the US of A (read the last with a sense of pride). We were told we needed a letter from our supervisor, so we called Toronto and asked someone to tell Laurence to fax one (he was, of course, invigilating an exam). After an hour or so, the fax came through from Laurence explaining our project and the need for fresh bees specimens for DNA barcoding. The burly man called on us again and asked us what we were transporting. "Bees" we said. "Anything else?" he inquired with a hint of suspicion. "No" we replied (with visions of all the dead tiger beetles, velvet ants, syrphid flies, etc in the car flashing across my brain). We were asked to wait for the agricultural specialist. She repeated his two questions: "What are you transporting?". "Bees" we repeated. "Anything else?". Cory and I cast a sidelong glance at one another. "No ... ". The agricultural specialist at this moment produced Laurence's letter, placed it on her desk, and with an accusing tone said "But it says here that you're bringing DNA!" ... A moment of awkward silence followed while Cory and I considered how to best explain the discoveries of Watson and Crick ...

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