Sign in

Peter Graystock

@pgraystock.bsky.social
1.6K followers 1.6K following 32 posts

Researcher of host-microbe interactions in animal systems with a focus on social insects & pollinators Imperial College London. #bees #wheat #holobiont #parasite #spillover #directed evolution

PostsRepliesMedia
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
🐝 New paper out. Infected honey bees given a commercial pollen substitute developed 2.6× higher Nosema parasite loads and showed increased mortality risk. Nutrition can sometimes benefit parasites as well as hosts. doi.org/10.1016/j.ji... #HoneyBees #PollinatorHealth #DiseaseEcology #Apiculture
031
Reposted by Peter Graystock
Royal Society Publishing @royalsocietypublishing.org · 22/07/2026
Can near-infrared exposure help mitigate pesticide-impaired thermoregulation in adult #bees? This new #RSOS paper investigates: doi.org/10.1098/rsos...
021
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
How climate change & pesticide interact to affect bee performance; looking ahead at var. approaches (incl. microbes) to help bees tinyurl.com/2s3ndu3j @theobserveruk.bsky.social highlight work from richjgill.bsky.social and @pgraystock.bsky.social Labs at @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social
011
Reposted by Peter Graystock
holobiontbiology.bsky.social @holobiontbiology.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Charlotte's PhD is exploring what happens to bumble bee holobionts after prolonged exposure to chemical toxins - she takes both host bee and microbial impacts into account. @cfryday.bsky.social @pgraystock.bsky.social 🐝👀 www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9v6...
youtube.com
011
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
🐝 Are honeybees getting too much attention? Do we really understand the global ecology of bees and how they respond to environmental change? New research asks whether our evidence base is skewed. @nesbit-sci.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41... @davegoulson.bsky.social @richjgill.bsky.social
2225
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
CABI is working with Imperial College London, on their new sustainable agriculture MSc. It will prepare future agricultural technologists, scientists, and sustainability professionals for careers in sustainable agriculture. blog.cabi.org/2026/02/17/d...
blog.cabi.org
Discover Imperial's master's on sustainable agriculture, supported by CABI – CABI Blog
Study a Sustainable agriculture MSc with CABI and Imperial College London. Gain skills in agricultural technology and IPM training.
000
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Get a Masters in Sustainable Agriculture and Technology @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social & delve into the environmental and technological frontiers of modern agriculture. Partnered with CABI, explore real-world farming systems with access to agritech innovators, research farms, and commercial ops.
flyer for the masters in Sustainable Agriculture and Technology at Imperial College London with QR link to more details.
100
Reposted by Peter Graystock
Philipp Engel @pengellab.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
🐝🦠 New paper: rdcu.be/eOf7A Phages may drive microbial diversity, yet we often don’t even know how phages & bacteria correlate in nature. Our new study tackles this in the honeybee gut, thanks to the great work of PhD student @malickndiaye.bsky.social at @dmf-unil.bsky.social @fbm-unil.bsky.social
nature.com
Phage diversity mirrors bacterial strain diversity in the honey bee gut microbiota - Nature Communications
Authors analyse paired viral and bacterial shotgun metagenomics data from individual honeybee guts, revealing modular, nested phage–bacteria networks, with viral diversity mirroring bacterial strain c...
15623
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
PLEASE SHARE. PhD advert: Predicting Pollinator Health and Disease Through Molecular and Sensor-Based Surveillance. tinyurl.com/559hjsm4 Rare opportunity at the intersection of molecular ecology, disease surveillance, modelling and precision apiculture. DEADLINE 24th OCTOBER!
tinyurl.com
Predicting Pollinator Health and Disease Through Molecular and Sensor-Based Surveillance at Imperial College London on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Predicting Pollinator Health and Disease Through Molecular and Sensor-Based Surveillance at Imperial College London, listed on FindAPhD.com
134
Reposted by Peter Graystock
Paul Carini @uncultured.carinilab.com · 19/09/2025
#microsky 🧫🧪
001
Reposted by Peter Graystock
Professor Lesley Hoyles @bugsinyourguts.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
Delighted to announce the launch of the BBSRC-funded UK-wide microbiome innovation network Microbiome-Net. I'm looking forward to representing and furthering the East Midlands Microbiome Research Network's contributions to research, innovation and policy. www.liverpool.ac.uk/microbiome-i...
liverpool.ac.uk
Stories - Microbiome Innovation Centre - University of Liverpool
0237
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
Monika Yordanova leads on this study exploring coexposure of pesticides & Enterococcus on the health of developing bee larvae 🐝. Often seen as a pathogen, small doses of the microbe may reduce some of the impacts of pesticide toxicity under some conditions. doi.org/10.1093/fems...
141
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 21/08/2025
Experimenting with AI to make accessible summaries of research. What are peoples thoughts? Here is a summary of a paper looking at the role of flowers in parasite transmission. Parasites in bloom: flowers aid dispersal and transmission youtu.be/sGGHzrW0Lmc @royalsocietypublishing.org
youtu.be
Parasites in Bloom: The Secret Life of Flowers
YouTube video by Graystock Lab
020
Reposted by Peter Graystock
Imperial Life Sciences @imperiallifesci.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
🌿 Over 1000 signed up to join us at #OurImperial Silwood Park for Bugs, Birds & Beasts Day - our biggest turnout yet at this lively day of science, nature & family fun! From falconry to butterfly hunts, from an orchestra to 3D insects, this was a day out to remember! Thank you everyone! 🦅🐛💧
051
Reposted by Peter Graystock
James Romero @jamesromero.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
My 4th 'Bugs Day' at Imperial's Silwood campus. The boys (and I) had a wonderful time at an event that just gets better each year. For Imperial team's interesting in public engagement with the natural world or environmental research, Bugs day is a wonderful resource to reach public audiences.
021
Reposted by Peter Graystock
Vida Svahnström @vidasplants.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
Glad to finally be able to share this paper! We found that epiphytes and their close relatives tend to have small range sizes, meaning a high proportion are likely to be at risk of extinction www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Geographic range size and rarity of epiphytic flowering plants - Nature Plants
Epiphytes have larger ranges than closely related terrestrial species. However, a large proportion of species in epiphyte-rich clades are rare with small range sizes, regardless of their lifeform.
1113
Reposted by Peter Graystock
Kew Gardens @rbgkew.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
For over 100 years, epiphytes - plants that grow on other plants such as orchids & bromeliads - were believed to be widespread and resilient 🌿 But our new study in Nature Plants tells a very different story 👇
Red and green bromeliads growing epiphytically on a mossy tree trunk in a tropical forest.
Researcher wearing glasses and a cap points to a small epiphytic plant growing on a mossy tree trunk in a forest.
14917
Reposted by Peter Graystock
Grantham Institute - Climate Change and the Environment @granthamicl.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
🪴 Epiphytic plants, including popular houseplants and orchids, may be at high risk of extinction across the globe, according to new research by scientists at Imperial College London and @rbgkew.bsky.social 🧵
122
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
📣 Imperial College Research Fellowships! Prestigious 4yr fellowship ✔️ Salary from £48k ✔️ Up to £45k for research ✔️ A supportive, inclusive research environment ✔️ UK or international ✔️ <4 yrs post-PhD Drop me a pm if you are interested in bee/microbe related research! tinyurl.com/mr3k5a93
097
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 08/03/2025
Women at Imperial celebrates the achievements of our staff, students and alumni, and raises awareness of support and initiatives across the university. Join us for Women at Imperial Week from 10–14 March 2025 with a series of events and workshops. www.imperial.ac.uk/women-at-imp...
imperial.ac.uk
Women at Imperial
Women at Imperial is an annual event that takes place around International Women’s Day (8 March). Over the course of a week we celebrate female staff and students, past and present, and raise awarenes...
000
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Looking for a masters (MRes/Msci) in Ecological sciences? @imperiallifesci.bsky.social youtu.be/b9HAZsvBpm8?...
youtu.be
Postgraduate Study at Imperial | Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
YouTube video by Imperial College London
011
Reposted by Peter Graystock
Little Green Space @lgspace.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
Please don't turn your lawn into plastic. Plastic grass reduces food & shelter for wildlife such as bees & butterflies; has a high carbon footprint; sheds micro-plastics which wash into our rivers and seas. Create a wildlife-friendly space instead. More bit.ly/3wE67P8 🐝
613052
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
Funded PhD opportunity in the Graystock lab! If you are interested in pollinators, microbes, parasites and machine learning, please get in touch! - only a few days left to let me know! Whilst a project using the above is planned, im happy to adapt to the strengths of a candidate
12717
Reposted by Peter Graystock
c0nc0rdance @c0nc0rdance.bsky.social · 25/12/2024
"Ants solving a geometric problem and it's amazing." This is a great example of 'emergent phenomenon': - None of the ants understand the problem they're solving. - None of them can see the whole shape. - A series of small decisions or rules add up to something with a new layer of complexity.
341301437
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
Nice to catch up with everyone at the #IUSSI conference in London today. A good representation from the lab too with some excellent student posters! With @nesbit-sci.bsky.social, Charlotte and Monika - I think it's also safe to say my phone camera has seen better days!
Miles Nesbit stood in front of his poster on trait contributions to fomite mediated pathogen transmission Charlotte Fryday stood in front of her award winning  poster on the design and application of apparatus to monitor flower mediated pathogen transmission
051
Reposted by Peter Graystock
Dan Davis @dandavis101.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
PhD studentships now available in all areas of Life Sciences at Imperial College London www.findaphd.com/phds/program...
findaphd.com
FindAPhD : Department of Life Sciences funded PhD studentships at Imperial College London
Apply for a PhD: Department of Life Sciences funded PhD studentships at Imperial College London
01821
Reposted by Peter Graystock
Helen Todd @helenrambler.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
This Edinburgh Botanics light show installation is designed to illustrate mycelium networks. It’s almost as impressive in daylight as when lit up!
Frosty lawn with white cables on the ground illustrating mycelium networks White cables around a tree illustrating mycelium networks Night time view of illuminated cables to show mycelium networks around a tree
12449116
Reposted by Peter Graystock
Avery Russell @draverbee.bsky.social · 24/10/2024
Wondered how pollinator learning affects pollination for 🌺🌻🌼? More complex flowers 🌺🌻🌼 require more learning, and learning ⬆️pollen collection, but has NO effect on pollen transfer! New Behavioral Ecology pub from #RussellLab grad & undergrads; collab w/ Ashman Lab academic.oup.com/beheco/advan...
academic.oup.com
Learning to handle flowers increases pollen collection for bees but does not affect pollination success for plants
Pollinator learning often increases flower handling efficiency and food collection (e.g. pollen or nectar), but whether learning thereby reduces pollinatio
23514
Reposted by Peter Graystock
Amanda Liczner, PhD @bumblebeehaviour.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
Did you know we can track the movements of bumble bees using radio technology? This research reveals fascinating insights into their behaviour across different landscapes and helps guide vital conservation efforts. 🧪🌎🐝
a bumble bee queen with a radio tag attached to the abdomen resting on my hand
712221
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
There's just something about bee mites that makes me feel uneasy! anyway - here's a picture of some poor bees at the end of a field experiment we ran (we hadn't considered mites in the design but they became an interesting part of the study!). Its amazing how many mites a single bee can carry!
0226
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
In the lab we have been enjoying learning and optimising methods to rear bumblebee larvae in the lab. Its more involved than rearing honey bees but just a cute to see then consume the diet!
080
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
In 2015 i helped document the oldest known wasp individual (atleast 506 days old). Will this get me on to the #wasplove starter pack @waspwoman.bsky.social ? peerj.com/articles/848/
020
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
We've upgraded the labs 3D printer and its such a cool toy! here it is printing a graduate students design that will be showcased at the upcoming winter IUSSI conference at QMUL
000
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
Putting QR codes on bees to track them may seem like a very cool thing to do, but don't be fooled, you've got to keep these puppies clean and that is one laborious task!
010
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
Taking a look down the microscope at bumblebee guts and watching lots of crithidia bombi (a bee parasite) swimming around! 🐝🐝 #parasites #pollinator #microscope
030
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
1/2 Capturing the architecture of bumblebee nests in 3 dimensions! First look with the new 3D scanner, some refining to do but so far so good! #bee #nest #3dscanning #3dscan
2144
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 14/11/2024
Please Share. Postdoc available with me on Pollinator Microbiomes. To develop/engineer microbial communities that protect bees from stressors. Collaborating with Quinn McFrederick (UCR) & Marc-Emmanuel Dumas (Imperial). www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-jobs/description/index.php?jobId=21816
imperial.ac.uk
Description
Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities ment...
0715
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 14/06/2024
Research Fellowship call OPEN NOW 4 yrs research & salary funding. local & international applicants. Get in touch if looking for funding to develop your own research & you think my lab (pollinator microbial ecology) will synergise. Based at imperial college london www.imperial.ac.uk/life-science...
imperial.ac.uk
Imperial College Research Fellowships | Faculty of Natural Sciences | Imperial College LondonImperial College London
000
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 20/03/2024
We're looking for a lab tech (3yr) with experience in microbial ecology and/or controlled plant growth. This is part of the exciting large 'Green Revolution' project which includes 2 technicians, 5 postdocs & 5 PIs all based at Silwood Park, Imperial College London www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
011
Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 08/03/2024
The honey bees active and finding the pollen, good signs for the year ahead! They have already started to conspire against me documenting their hives though..
030
Reposted by Peter Graystock
Shawn Christensen @pollenmicrobes.bsky.social · 10/11/2023
Our preprint on the very cool, very weird (ant-like??) microbiome of the solitary bee Anthophora bomboides is up on bioRxiv !! Its overwhelmingly dominated by Actinobacteria and one fungus (Moniliella spathulata)-- but only in the brood cell... www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A bright yellow-orange prepupa sits inside an opened brood cell (made of dirt). The inside wall of the brood cell has white streaks (the fatty lining that it just ate most of) and orange spots of fungi are also growing on the walls.
3104