Foraging Behaviour of Wild Bees at Hot Pepper Flowers (Capsicum annuum) and its Possible Influence on Cross Pollination

Native bees are effective pollinators of hot pepper plants,Capsicum annuum. In four gardens in south-central Brazil (Patosde Minas and Brasília) flowers of three cultivars receivedvisits from 16 species of bees in eight genera: Hylaeus(Colletidae),Dialictus, Halictus, Augochlora,Augochloropsis and Ceratalictus(Halictidae),Exomalopsis andBombus (Apidae). No other insects were observedto visit the flowers. Some species of bee occurred in more thanone garden. Individual bees gathered a full pollen load from18 to 47 flowers and visited one to eight plants on a singleforaging trip. In 76 shifts between plants, the bees made nineswitches between cultivars. It is suggested that small nativespecies of bees pollinate the flowers effectively and that theirsmall foraging areas are important in keeping the cultivarsof both hot and sweet peppers genetically distinct where severalcultivars are grown close together. Copyright 2000 Annals ofBotany Company Capsicum annuum, hot pepper, native bees, fruit set, Brazil     

Discrimination of Unrewarding Flowers by Bees; Direct Detection of Rewards and Use of Repellent Scent Marks

Bumblebees and honeybees deposit short-lived scent marks on flowers that they visit when foraging. Conspecifics use these marks to distinguish those flowers that have recently been emptied and, so, avoid them. The aim of this study was to assess how widespread this behavior is. Evidence for direct detection of reward levels was found in two bee species: Agapostemon nasutus was able to detect directly pollen availability in flowers with exposed anthers, while Apis mellifera appeared to be able to detect nectar levels of tubular flowers. A third species, Trigona fulviventris, avoided flowers that had recently been visited by conspecifies, regardless of reward levels, probably by using scent marks. Three further bee/flower systems were examined in which there was no detectable discrimination among flowers. We argue that bees probably rely on direct detection of rewards where this is allowed by the structure of the flower and on scent marks when feeding on flowers where the rewards are hidden. However, discrimination does not always occur. We suggest that discrimination may not always make economic sense; when visiting flowers with a low handling time, or flowers that are scarce, it may be more efficient to visit every flower that is encountered.     

Foraging by Male and Female Solitary Bees with Implications for Pollination

Both male and female solitary bees visit flowers for rewards. Sex related differences in foraging efficiency may also affect their probability to act as pollinators. In some major genera of solitary bees, males can be identified from a distance enabling a comparative foraging-behavior study. We have simultaneously examined nectar foraging of males and females of three bee species on five plant species in northern Israel. Males and females harvested equal nectar amounts but males spent less time in each flower increasing their foraging efficiency at this scale. The overall average visit frequencies of females and males was 27.2 and 21.6 visits per flower per minute respectively. Females flew shorter distances increasing their visit frequency, relative foraging efficiency and their probability to pollinate. The proportion of conspecific pollen was higher on females, indicating higher floral constancy and pollination probability. The longer flights of males increase their probability to cross-pollinate. Our results indicate that female solitary bees are more efficient foragers; females seem also to be more efficient pollinators but males contribute more to long-distance pollen flow.     

Dancing Bees Improve Colony Foraging Success as Long-Term Benefits Outweigh Short-Term Costs

Waggle dancing bees provide nestmates with spatial information about high quality resources. Surprisingly, attempts to quantify the benefits of this encoded spatial information have failed to find positive effects on colony foraging success under many ecological circumstances. Experimental designs have often involved measuring the foraging success of colonies that were repeatedly switched between oriented dances versus disoriented dances (i.e. communicating vectors versus not communicating vectors). However, if recruited bees continue to visit profitable food sources for more than one day, this procedure would lead to confounded results because of the long-term effects of successful recruitment events. Using agent-based simulations, we found that spatial information was beneficial in almost all ecological situations. Contrary to common belief, the benefits of recruitment increased with environmental stability because benefits can accumulate over time to outweigh the short-term costs of recruitment. Furthermore, we found that in simulations mimicking previous experiments, the benefits of communication were considerably underestimated (at low food density) or not detected at all (at medium and high densities). Our results suggest that the benefits of waggle dance communication are currently underestimated and that different experimental designs, which account for potential long-term benefits, are needed to measure empirically how spatial information affects colony foraging success.     

The Abundance and Pollen Foraging Behaviour of Bumble Bees in Relation to Population Size of Whortleberry (Vaccinium uliginosum)

Habitat fragmentation can have severe effects on plant pollinator interactions, for example changing the foraging behaviour of pollinators. To date, the impact of plant population size on pollen collection by pollinators has not yet been investigated. From 2008 to 2010, we monitored nine bumble bee species (Bombus campestris, Bombus hortorum s.l., Bombus hypnorum, Bombus lapidarius, Bombus pascuorum, Bombus pratorum, Bombus soroensis, Bombus terrestris s.l., Bombus vestalis s.l.) on Vaccinium uliginosum (Ericaceae) in up to nine populations in Belgium ranging in size from 80 m² to over 3.1 ha. Bumble bee abundance declined with decreasing plant population size, and especially the proportion of individuals of large bumble bee species diminished in smaller populations. The most remarkable and novel observation was that bumble bees seemed to switch foraging behaviour according to population size: while they collected both pollen and nectar in large populations, they largely neglected pollen collection in small populations. This pattern was due to large bumble bee species, which seem thus to be more likely to suffer from pollen shortages in smaller habitat fragments. Comparing pollen loads of bumble bees we found that fidelity to V. uliginosum pollen did not depend on plant population size but rather on the extent shrub cover and/or openness of the site. Bumble bees collected pollen only from three plant species (V. uliginosum, Sorbus aucuparia and Cytisus scoparius). We also did not discover any pollination limitation of V. uliginosum in small populations. We conclude that habitat fragmentation might not immediately threaten the pollination of V. uliginosum, nevertheless, it provides important nectar and pollen resources for bumble bees and declining populations of this plant could have negative effects for its pollinators. The finding that large bumble bee species abandon pollen collection when plant populations become small is of interest when considering plant and bumble bee conservation.     

The Potential Influence of Bumble Bee Visitation on Foraging Behaviors and Assemblages of Honey Bees on Squash Flowers in Highland Agricultural Ecosystems

Bee species interactions can benefit plant pollination through synergistic effects and complementary effects, or can be of detriment to plant pollination through competition effects by reducing visitation by effective pollinators. Since specific bee interactions influence the foraging performance of bees on flowers, they also act as drivers to regulate the assemblage of flower visitors. We selected squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) and its pollinators as a model system to study the foraging response of honey bees to the occurrence of bumble bees at two types of sites surrounded by a high amount of natural habitats (≥ 58% of land cover) and a low amount of natural habitats (≤ 12% of land cover) in a highland agricultural ecosystem in China. At the individual level, we measured the elapsed time from the departure of prior pollinator(s) to the arrival of another pollinator, the selection of honey bees for flowers occupied by bumble bees, and the length of time used by honey bees to explore floral resources at the two types of sites. At the community level, we explored the effect of bumble bee visitation on the distribution patterns of honey bees on squash flowers. Conclusively, bumble bee visitation caused an increase in elapsed time before flowers were visited again by a honey bee, a behavioral avoidance by a newly-arriving honey bee to select flowers occupied by bumble bees, and a shortened length of time the honey bee takes to examine and collect floral resources. The number of overall bumble bees on squash flowers was the most important factor explaining the difference in the distribution patterns of honey bees at the community level. Furthermore, decline in the number of overall bumble bees on the squash flowers resulted in an increase in the number of overall honey bees. Therefore, our study suggests that bee interactions provide an opportunity to enhance the resilience of ecosystem pollination services against the decline in pollinator diversity.     

Does the Flower Constancy of Bumble Bees Reflect Foraging Economics?

We examined the effects of floral reward level and spatial arrangement on the propensity of bumble bees to exhibit flower constancy. In three separate experiments, we compared the flower constancy of bees on dimorphic arrays of blue and yellow flowers that differed either in reward concentration, reward volume, or inter‐flower distance. Overall, flower choice patterns varied among bees, ranging from random selection to complete constancy. When flowers contained greater reward volumes and were spaced farther apart, bees showed less flower constancy and more moves to closely neighbouring flowers. Changes in reward concentration had no effect on flower constancy; however, more dilute rewards produced shorter flight times between flowers. In addition, there was a strong positive relationship between degree of flower constancy and net rate of energy gain when flowers were spaced farther apart, indicating that constant bees were more economic foragers than inconstant bees. Together, these results support the view that the flower constancy of pollinators reflects an economic foraging decision.     

Socially Influenced Behaviour and Learning in Locusts

As a part of our research on the evolution of social learning in insects, we examined socially influenced behaviour and social learning in desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) nymphs and adults. In the nymphs, the only positive effect we documented was an increased tendency to feed while in the company of another locust than alone. The adults, on the other hand, showed significant preference for joining others (local enhancement) in both the contexts of feeding and egg laying. Neither nymphs nor adults, however, showed social learning. Our preliminary analyses pointed to locusts as a likely insect that might possess social learning. Our research, when taken together with research on phase‐shifts and swarm/marching behaviour of gregarious locusts, suggests that the behavioural dynamics of gregarious locusts may make local enhancement but not social learning beneficial. The possible difference we documented between the nymphs and adults could enable us to further explore the proximate and ultimate mechanisms that underlie socially influenced behaviour.     

外源DNA导入花生变异体后代的数量性状分析

方法:对外源DNA导入花生变异体的D8代株行进行了数量性状的比较、相关性分析和聚类分析。结果:①来自D4代同一株行的10个D8代株行相比较,主茎高、侧枝长、总分枝数等性状无显著差异,叶长、果长及果皮厚三个性状差异显著或极显著;②单株生产力与其他性状的相关程度不同,与果长呈极显著正相关,与主茎高呈显著负相关;③将10个株行聚为3类,结果与系谱图并不完全一致。     

Inorganic Nitrogen Derived from Foraging Honey Bees Could Have Adaptive Benefits for the Plants They Visit

In most terrestrial ecosystems, nitrogen (N) is the most limiting nutrient for plant growth. Honey bees may help alleviate this limitation because their feces (frass) have high concentration of organic nitrogen that may decompose in soil and provide inorganic N to plants. However, information on soil N processes associated with bee frass is not available. The objectives of this work were to 1) estimate the amount of bee frass produced by a honey bee colony and 2) evaluate nitrogen mineralization and ammonia volatilization from bee frass when surface applied or incorporated into soil. Two cage studies were conducted to estimate the amount of frass produced by a 5000-bee colony, and three laboratory studies were carried out in which bee frass, surface-applied or incorporated into soil, was incubated at 25^oC for 15 to 45 days. The average rate of bee frass production by a 5,000-bee colony was estimated at 2.27 to 2.69 g N month⁻¹. Nitrogen mineralization from bee frass during 30 days released 20% of the organic N when bee frass was surface applied and 34% when frass was incorporated into the soil. Volatilized NH₃ corresponded to 1% or less of total N. The potential amount of inorganic N released to the soil by a typical colony of 20,000 bees foraging in an area similar to that of the experimental cages (3.24 m²) was estimated at 0.62 to 0.74 g N m⁻² month⁻¹ which may be significant at a community scale in terms of soil microbial activity and plant growth. Thus, the deposition of available N by foraging bees could have adaptive benefits for the plants they visit, a collateral benefit deriving from the primary activity of pollination.     

Influence of Abiotic Factors and Floral Resource Availability on Daily Foraging Activity of Bees

In this study, the daily and seasonal influences of abiotic factors and the amount of floral resources on the foraging frequency of bees were determined. The experiments were performed, during 12 consecutive months, in the main floral sources used by bees in a secondary forest fragment. The foraging frequency of each bee species on flowers of each plant was recorded for 20-min periods, every hour. To verify whether the foraging activity is influenced by abiotic factors, Pearson’s correlation analysis and linear regression tests were performed for the dominant bee species. Temperature and luminosity were the two main abiotic factors regulating foraging activities of bees. A positive correlation was found between the foraging frequency of most bees and these two variables. Conversely, the foraging activity was influenced neither by the relative humidity nor by the wind speed. The activity of each species depends on a combination of factors that include not only abiotic variables, but also the amount of floral resources available during the day, body size, and behavior of each visitor. After a certain period of the day, the scarcity of floral resources produced by most plants can stimulate the bees to forage in the flowers early in subsequent days, which may occur before the period in which the abiotic conditions are really favorable.     

Oil-Gathering Bees Visit Flowers of Eglandular Morphs of the Oil-Producing Malpighiaceae1

The visiting behaviour of oil-gathering, anthophorid bees on eglandular morphs of two Malpighiaceae species was observed in southeastern Brazil. The bees landed on eglandular flowers apparently by mistake, as suggested by their making one to a few scraping movements on landing, and behaving in the same way as they scrape oil glands on glandular flowers. After perceiving their mistake the bees either left the flower, making one to a few additional visits to other eglandular flowers before leaving the plant, or switched to pollen collecting. Large and medium-sized species of Centris, and some Epicharis, left the flowers after mistake visits, thus wasting time and energy, whereas small Centris and larger Epicharis switched to pollen harvesting, thus turning a mistake into a rewarding visit. Eglandular flowers of both Banisteriopsis muricata and Heteropterys aceroides attracted oil-gathering bees by deceit and probably acted as mimics of glandular flowers of their own species (automimicry). The pollination of eglandular morphs of these two Malpighiaceae species seems dependent mainly on the opportunistic, mixed oil-pollen gathering behaviour of deceived bees such as Epicharis schrottkyi. We suggest that some showy, eglandular species such as Banisteriopsis lutea may act as general mimics of other, oil-rewarding Malpighiaceae species.     

Bird Pollination of Explosive Flowers While Foraging for Nectar and Caterpillars1

Mucuna (Fabaceae) has explosive flowers that open only if a pressure is applied on their wings and keel. The cacique Cacicus haemorrhous inserts its bill into a flower and spreading its mandibles apart it opens the flower to take nectar. This icterine bird also preys upon caterpillars of the butterfly Astraptes talus that pupates within the flowers. Foraging with use of bill movements to take nectar or insects within a flower is an adequate mechanism to open and pollinate explosive flowers. We suggest that a plausible behavioral scenario for the pollination relationship between icterines and Mucuna‐like flowers might start with the birds' searching for insects within flowers.     

动物觅食行为对捕食风险的反应

动物进行任何活动时均面临被捕食的风险 ,分析捕食风险与猎物觅食行为的关系 ,有助于揭示捕食者与猎物的协同进化机制。捕食风险具有限制或调节猎物种群数量的功能。在进化时间内 ,对猎物形态和行为特征的进化是潜在的选择压力之一 ,可利用环境因子作为信息源估测食物可利用性和捕食风险大小的动物 ,具有更大的适合度。信息源可分为包括视觉的、听觉的和化学的。动物进行觅食活动时 ,依据信息源的变化确定环境中捕食风险的大小 ,并根据自身的质量在捕食风险的大小之间做出权衡 ,通过食物选择、活动格局和栖息地利用等行为的变化降低捕食风险     

Circadian Rhythms of Pollen and Nectar Collection by Bees on the Flowers of Ludwigia elegans (Onagraceae)

The visits of Tetraglossula ventralis (Hymenoptera: Colletidae) and Heterosarellus sp (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) to collect pollen and nectar on the flowers of Ludwigia elegans (Onagraceae) were visually monitored from November 1989 to October 1991, in two localities of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. These localities are approximately at the same latitude (Mairinque 23° 52’ S and Campos do Jordão 22° 45’ S), but with a difference of 1000m in the altitude between them. As same latitudes ensure similar photoperiods and the difference in altitude, a persistent step in the temperature, the field work was conducted in environmental conditions varying within a known and limited range. Circadian rhythms are described for pollen and nectar harvesting behaviours, which are finely adjusted to the flower’s anthesis and withering. The environmental light/dark cycle is suggested as the main zeitgeber and temperature cycle either as a secondary zeitgeber or as a masking agent. Since these bee species are non-social, the possibility of social synchonization was discarded. We concluded that temporal adaptation plays a central role in the interaction of flowers and its visitors. In addition to specialized structures to collect the pollen of L.elegans, the acrophases of pollen and nectar collection rhythms coincide with the time when the stigma is most receptive and consequently the possibility of pollination increases highly.     

Juvenile Galápagos Pelicans Increase Their Foraging Success by Copying Adult Behaviour

Social learning is the building block of culture and traditions in humans and nonhuman animals, and its study has a long history. Most investigations have addressed either the causation or the function of social learning. Though much is known about the underlying mechanisms of social learning, demonstrations of its adaptive value in a natural setting are lacking. Here we show that juvenile brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) can increase their foraging efficiency by copying adult diving behaviour, suggesting that social learning helps juveniles to find profitable food patches. Our findings demonstrate the potential fitness consequences of behavioural copying and thus highlight the possible adaptive importance of social learning.