Extensive loss of forage diversity in social bees owing to flower constancy in simulated environments

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 291(2027)

Published: July 1, 2024

Many bees visit just one flower species during a foraging trip, i.e. they show constancy. Flower constancy is important for plant reproduction but it could lead to an unbalanced diet, especially in biodiversity-depleted landscapes. It assumed that does not reduce dietary diversity social bees, such as honeybees or bumblebees, this has yet been tested. We used computer simulations investigate the effects of on colony diet species-rich and species-poor also explored if communication about food sources, which by many further reduces forage diversity. Our reveal extensive loss owing both environments. Small flower-constant colonies often discovered only 30–50% all available species, thereby increasing risk nutritional deficiencies. Communication interacted with further. Finally, we found source clustering, habitat fragmentation impaired These findings highlight challenges face different landscapes can aid design measures increase improve bee nutrition human-modified

Language: Английский

Interindividual variability in flower pickiness by foraging bumblebees

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 20, 2024

ABSTRACT Pollinators navigate complex and heterogeneous “flower markets”, where floral resources vary in quality, availability, distribution. Bumblebees, as generalist foragers, visit numerous flowers during their foraging bouts. Yet, the factors influencing flower choices notable individual differences behaviour among bees are still not well understood. We hypothesised that early experiences influence bees’ subsequent choices. To test this, we observed Bombus terrestris workers forage for three consecutive bouts two artificial arrays. One array simulated a favourable environment with patches alternating high- low-quality (40% vs. 20% w/w sucrose solution), while other presented more challenging of high-quality alongside unrewarded solution plain water). In both arrays, rapidly improved efficiency, increasing intake per unit time across array, most became highly selective flowers, some continued visiting types. Their degree pickiness was influenced by experiences: initially exposed to selective, whereas those encountering first were less foraging. Despite conditions, achieved comparable rates within This study highlights adaptability bee emphasizes role driving differences. Significance statement efficiently, pollinators must quality availability. arrays: an extreme non-rewarding found picky, collecting these differences, efficiency over successive bouts, achieving similar flexibility bumblebees suggests can have lasting effects, dozens visits later.

Language: Английский