Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
08:36
Empirical, Metagenomic, and Computational Techniques Illuminate the Mechanisms by which Fungicides Compromise Bee Health
Published on: October 9, 2017
Landscape context not patch size determines bumble-bee density on flower mixtures sown for agri-environment schemes
M S Heard1, C Carvell, N L Carreck
1NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Monks Wood, Huntingdon PE28 2LS, UK. mshe@ceh.ac.uk
Biology Letters
|October 11, 2007
Summary
Bumble-bee populations are declining due to habitat loss. Sown forage patches attract more bees, especially in agricultural landscapes, offering a potential conservation strategy.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Entomology
Background:
- Bumble-bee declines in Europe are linked to agricultural intensification, causing habitat and forage loss.
- These declines pose ecological and commercial risks due to the importance of bumble-bees for pollination.
- Agri-environment schemes in England aim to restore forage, but their effectiveness needs evaluation regarding patch size and landscape context.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of sown forage patches on bumble-bee densities.
- To assess how landscape characteristics influence the success of these forage patches.
- To determine the relationship between patch size and bumble-bee attraction.
Main Methods:
- Field study comparing bumble-bee densities on sown forage patches and control habitats.
- Analysis of bumble-bee responses across sites with varying landscape compositions.
- Measurement of bumble-bee densities in relation to patch area and landscape features.
Main Results:
- Bumble-bee densities were significantly higher on sown forage patches than control habitats.
- The total number of foraging bumble-bees was proportional to the area of the sown patch.
- The effectiveness of forage patches in attracting bumble-bees was greatest in landscapes with a high proportion of arable land.
Conclusions:
- Sown forage patches can enhance bumble-bee populations, particularly in intensive agricultural areas.
- Landscape context is crucial for maximizing the benefits of forage provision for bumble-bees.
- Targeted placement of forage resources in arable landscapes may be an effective conservation strategy.
Related Concept Videos
02:40Pollination and Flower Structure
Flowers are the reproductive, seed-producing structures of angiosperms. Typically, flowers consist of sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels. Sepals and petals are the vegetative flower organs. Stamens and carpels are the reproductive organs.
00:54Distribution and Dispersion
Ecology is the study of how organisms interact with their environment and with one another. An important aspect of ecology is understanding where species are found and how individuals are distributed within those areas. The geographic range of a species refers to the total area where its members are located, while dispersion describes the pattern of spacing of individuals within that range.Geographic Range and Dispersion PatternsWithin a species’ geographic range, individuals may be distributed...