Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Altruism01:03

Altruism

Altruistic behaviors are “unselfish” behaviors—those that help another individual at the expense of the individual carrying out the behavior. Despite the negative consequences for the altruistic animal, these behaviors are thought to have evolved for several reasons.
Inclusive Fitness00:57

Inclusive Fitness

Most altruistic behavior—in which one animal helps another at a cost to themselves—occurs between relatives. Scientists think these altruistic behaviors evolved because they increase the inclusive fitness of the animal providing help.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Effects of flowering plant density on pollinator visitation, pollen receipt, and seed production in Delphinium barbeyi (Ranunculaceae).

American journal of botany·2011
Same author

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

Environmental entomology·2009
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

A 3D Printed Pollen Trap for Bumble Bee (Bombus) Hive Entrances
07:19

A 3D Printed Pollen Trap for Bumble Bee (Bombus) Hive Entrances

Published on: July 9, 2020

Surplus nectar available for subalpine bumble bee colony growth.

Susan E Elliott1

  • 1Pinyon Publishing, Montrose, CO 81403, USA. susanelliott@pinyon-publishing.com

Environmental Entomology
|December 22, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Bumble bee colony reproduction, specifically gyne production, increased with supplemental feeding, not flower density. This suggests resource availability at the nest, not foraging, limits bumble bee populations.

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Animal Behavior
  • Pollination Biology

Background:

  • Mutualisms can lead to coupled population dynamics.
  • Animal mutualist effects on plant reproduction are well-studied.
  • Plant mutualist effects on animal reproduction are less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how flower density affects bumble bee (Bombus appositus) reproduction.
  • To determine if supplemental feeding impacts bumble bee colony reproduction.

Main Methods:

  • Compared bumble bee reproduction across meadows with varying flower densities over two years.
  • Compared reproduction of fed and unfed bumble bee colonies.

Main Results:

  • Bumble bee colony reproduction was not affected by natural variation in flower density.

More Related Videos

Empirical, Metagenomic, and Computational Techniques Illuminate the Mechanisms by which Fungicides Compromise Bee Health
08:36

Empirical, Metagenomic, and Computational Techniques Illuminate the Mechanisms by which Fungicides Compromise Bee Health

Published on: October 9, 2017

Monitoring Colony-level Effects of Sublethal Pesticide Exposure on Honey Bees
10:35

Monitoring Colony-level Effects of Sublethal Pesticide Exposure on Honey Bees

Published on: November 15, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2026

A 3D Printed Pollen Trap for Bumble Bee (Bombus) Hive Entrances
07:19

A 3D Printed Pollen Trap for Bumble Bee (Bombus) Hive Entrances

Published on: July 9, 2020

Empirical, Metagenomic, and Computational Techniques Illuminate the Mechanisms by which Fungicides Compromise Bee Health
08:36

Empirical, Metagenomic, and Computational Techniques Illuminate the Mechanisms by which Fungicides Compromise Bee Health

Published on: October 9, 2017

Monitoring Colony-level Effects of Sublethal Pesticide Exposure on Honey Bees
10:35

Monitoring Colony-level Effects of Sublethal Pesticide Exposure on Honey Bees

Published on: November 15, 2017

  • Supplemental feeding of nectar and pollen doubled gyne production in bumble bee colonies.
  • Feeding did not significantly alter worker or male production.

    • Conclusions:

    • Bumble bee reproduction is limited by resources at the nest, not foraging opportunities.
    • Supplemental feeding enhances gyne production, crucial for colony survival and reproduction.
    • Worker limitations may prevent bees from exploiting abundant floral resources.