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Subalpine bumble bee foraging distances and densities in relation to flower availability.

Susan E Elliott¹

¹Pinyon Publishing, Montrose, CO 81403, USA. susan_elliott@together.net

Environmental Entomology

|June 11, 2009

Summary

High elevation bumble bees (Bombus spp.) likely have sufficient floral resources, as they forage short distances and their densities are not limited by flower availability, except for early-season queens.

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Animal Behavior
Pollination Biology

Background:

Bees rely on nectar and pollen, but food limitation effects on populations, especially in high elevations, are poorly understood.
Foraging behavior, including distance and density in relation to resource availability, offers insights into food limitation in mobile consumers.

Purpose of the Study:

To estimate subalpine bumble bee foraging distances.
To determine the relationship between forager density and floral resource availability throughout the season.

Main Methods:

Mark-recapture techniques were used to estimate bumble bee foraging distances from eight marking locations.
Forager and flower densities were measured in six half-hectare plots across the flowering season.

Main Results:

Marked bumble bees were typically recaptured within 100 m, rarely exceeding 1,000 m from the marking site.
Early-season queen density correlated positively with flower density.
Mid- and late-season forager densities (workers and males) did not show a relationship with flower density.

Conclusions:

Subalpine bumble bees exhibit short foraging distances, suggesting they do not need to travel far for food.
The lack of correlation between mid- to late-season forager density and flower density indicates ample floral resources for reproduction and colony growth.