Rate My Professor Anthony Abbate

Anthony Abbate is an Assistant Research Professor of Pollination Ecology and Conservation in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at Auburn University College of Agriculture. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Entomology from Auburn University in 2021, a Master of Science in Entomology from the University of Florida in 2017, a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from High Point University in 2012, and a North Carolina Teaching License from High Point University in 2012. Early in his career, Abbate worked as a high school science teacher at Northeastern High School in Elizabeth City, North Carolina from 2013 to 2014, teaching biology, physics, and chemistry. He also served as a research assistant in 2014 on a USDA-funded project examining forest management techniques and their effects on insect groups. In his current role as Research Entomologist and lab leader of the Auburn University Native Bee Lab, he conducts research experiments, supervises technicians and master's students, and has taught courses such as Bee Biology and Management as a teaching assistant at Auburn University in 2020 and 2021.

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.