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Related Concept Videos

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When the fitness of a trait is influenced by how common it is (i.e., its frequency) relative to different traits within a population, this is referred to as frequency-dependent selection. Frequency-dependent selection may occur between species or within a single species. This type of selection can either be positive—with more common phenotypes having higher fitness—or negative, with rarer phenotypes conferring increased fitness.
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A 3D Printed Pollen Trap for Bumble Bee Bombus Hive Entrances
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Behavioral responses by bumble bees to variation in pollen availability.

Lawrence D Harder1

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, T2N 1N4, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Oecologia
|March 18, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Bumble bees adjust foraging behavior based on flower pollen availability. These adaptations, including grooming, enhance energy efficiency but may reduce pollen dispersal between plants.

Keywords:
BombusGrooming behaviorPollen collectionPollen dispersal

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Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Ecology
  • Entomology
  • Plant-Pollinator Interactions

Background:

  • Pollen-collecting bumble bees (Bombus spp.) exhibit adaptive foraging strategies.
  • Bees assess and respond to variations in floral rewards, specifically pollen availability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how bumble bees alter foraging behavior in response to differing pollen availability.
  • To determine if plant species' pollen-dispensing mechanisms influence bee responses.
  • To evaluate the energetic efficiency of observed bee movement patterns.

Main Methods:

  • Observational studies of bumble bee foraging on Dodecatheon and Lupinus flowers.
  • Behavioral analysis of visit duration, flower visitation patterns, and grooming frequency.
  • Simulation modeling to assess the energetic costs and benefits of observed foraging patterns.

Main Results:

  • Bumble bees exhibited varied responses to increased pollen availability, including longer visits and increased grooming.
  • Responses were contingent on plant species; bees spent more time on Dodecatheon flowers but not Lupinus.
  • Simulation indicated bumble bee movement patterns on Lupinus maximize pollen return per energy expended.

Conclusions:

  • Bumble bee foraging behavior is facultative, adapting to floral rewards and plant traits.
  • Increased foraging efficiency through behavioral adjustments may inadvertently decrease pollen dispersal.
  • Understanding these interactions is crucial for plant reproductive success and pollinator dynamics.