Rate My Professor Anthony Abbate

Abbate's academic interests focus on pollination ecology and conservation, particularly native bees and beneficial insects in agricultural and natural systems. His research projects include the wildflower biochar project from 2022 to 2027, which investigates how biochar soil amendments influence wildflower growth, health, bloom intensity, and attractiveness to pollinators, and a USDA-funded study from 2022 to 2025 evaluating best management practices like fall mowing, light disking, and burning for wildflower establishment in the southeastern United States to support pollinators. These initiatives provide evidence-based recommendations for wildflower meadow establishment and maintenance. Key publications include "The pollination and fruit quality of two kiwifruit cultivars (Actinidia chinensis var. chinensis - ‘AU Golden Sunshine’ and ‘AU Gulf Coast Gold’) grown in the southeastern United States" (Journal of Economic Entomology, 2021, with Campbell, Vinson, Williams), "Urban development decreases bee abundance and diversity within coastal dune systems" (Global Ecology and Conservation, 2019, with Campbell, Kimmel, Kern), "The introduction and establishment of Campsomeris dorsata (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae) in Florida" (Florida Entomologist, 2018, with Campbell, Bremer, Kern), "Social encapsulation of parasite eggs by honeybee colonies" (Scientific Reports, 2026, with Grech, Williams, Neumann), and his doctoral dissertation "Assessing the pollination contribution of bees within the southeastern United States" (Auburn University, 2021). Abbate has co-authored grants as co-PI, including a USDA-ADAI-SCB grant for $24,000 in 2020 on pollen forage sources for bees in kiwifruit pollination and an AAES grant for $49,000 in 2019 on kiwifruit pollination requirements.