Ecology Of Bumblebees Research Articles

Phylogeography and ecology of bumble bees on Kolguev Island, a remote European Arctic landmass.

The bumble bee fauna of the Russian Arctic is rather poorly known. Kolguev Island, a remote insular territory in the Barents Sea, is one of the deficiently studied areas. In this study, material on Kolguev's bumble bees is re-examined, phylogeographic data analysed, putative scenarios explaining the origin of the bumble bee fauna on the island discussed, and the biology and phenology of these insular populations described. Five bumble bee species, i.e., Bombusflavidus, B.lapponicus, B.jonellus, B.pyrrhopygus, and B.balteatus, were recorded on this island. All of these species are widespread throughout the Eurasian Arctic. Bumble bee populations on Kolguev Island are characterised by a low level of molecular divergence from mainland populations. Based on paleogeographic reconstructions and phylogeographic patterns, it is hypothesised that the bumble bees appeared on this island in the Early Holocene. The lack of rodents (lemmings and voles) sharply decreases the number of available nesting places for bumble bees on Kolguev Island.

Analysis of the evidence to support the definition of Specific Protection Goals for bumble bees and solitary bees

In the context of the definition of Specific Protection Goals for bees, risk managers asked EFSA to provide the scientific background to support the decision-making process about what needs to be protected and to what extent. In this document, information, data and tools have been investigated to support the risk managers in deciding on the Specific Protection Goals for bumble bees and solitary bees. In particular, EFSA summarised the relevant information on biology and ecology and investigated the possibility of performing an analysis of background variability to support the definition of a threshold of acceptable effects. Accounting for the current level of knowledge, EFSA concluded that this analysis is complex, and it would require information that is not yet available and tools that have not yet been fully evaluated. Nevertheless, based on the limited data available, represented by the control groups of few experimental field studies, an analysis of variability of different relevant endpoints was provided. By taking into account the results of this analysis, the biology and ecology of bumble bees and solitary bees, as well as the impact for risk assessment, EFSA illustrated possible approaches that could be followed by risk managers.

Assessing Resource Limitation in Bumblebee Ecology

Flower abundance and diversity benefit bee populations. However, flower resource availability is disturbed in farmlands and little is known about which protein or carbohydrate resources may limit bee fitness. Here, we test the hypothesis of complementary resource limitation using a novel experimental approach of supplemental feeding in differently structured landscapes. We applied this assumption to bumblebees. We found positive effects of seminatural habitats, as a foraging resource of pollen and nectar, on reproductive performance and behavior of bumblebees. Moreover, the results suggest co-limitation in pollen and nectar in mixed landscapes, providing new perspectives on improving pollinator-friendly practices for the conservation of pollinators in farmlands. Photo credit: Kim K. Jowanowitsch. Photo credit: Kim K. Jowanowitsch. Photo credit: Kim K. Jowanowitsch. Photo credit: Kim K. Jowanowitsch. These photographs illustrate the article “Limitation of complementary resources affects colony growth, foraging behavior, and reproduction in bumble bees” by Requier, F., Jowanowitsch, K. K., Kallnik, K., Steffan-Dewenter, I., published in Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2946

Bombus (Pyrobombus) jonellus (Kirby, 1802) in the north-western Russian Plain: its distribution and ecology

The fauna and ecology of bumblebees in the European North are quite well-studied. However, there is a scarcity of information about the distribution and ecology of certain species of bumblebees, especially for the territory of Northern Russia. In this study, we summarised materials concerning Bombus (Pyrobombus) jonellus (Kirby, 1802), which is typical bumblebee species for the north-western portion of the Russian Plain and surrounding areas. The studied territory includes the Arkhangelsk Region and the western part of the Nenets Autonomous District, i.e. a wide strip from taiga to tundra ecosystems. Due to the studies of materials that were collected over a period 17 years, we established thatB. jonellusis widely distributed and the northern border of its range within the studied region reaches the northern part of the Kanin Peninsula. In the north-western Russian Plain,B. jonellushas been found in various types of habitats, the most common being coniferous and birch forests, secondary meadows and ruderal patches. In the Solovetsky Islands, White Sea, Russia,B. jonellusis typical on coastal heathlands. In the northern part of the studied region,B. jonellushas a tendency to forage in open habitats and visits a wide range of entomophilous plants, mostly of the family Ericaceae. Our findings highlight that the territory of the north-western Russian Plain and surrounding areas is whereB. jonellusis widely distributed and abundant, being recorded in different types of habitats.

Pollinators on the polar edge of the Ecumene: taxonomy, phylogeography, and ecology of bumble bees from Novaya Zemlya.

The High Arctic bumble bee fauna is rather poorly known, while a growing body of recent molecular research indicates that several Arctic species may represent endemic lineages with restricted ranges. Such local endemics are in need of special conservation efforts because of the increasing anthropogenic pressure and climate changes. Here, we re-examine the taxonomic and biogeographic affinities of bumble bees from Novaya Zemlya using historical samples and recently collected materials (1895–1925 vs. 2015–2017). Three bumble bee species inhabit the Yuzhny (Southern) Island and the southern edge of Severny (Northern) Island of this archipelago: Bombusglacialis Friese, 1902, B.hyperboreus Schönherr, 1809, and B.pyrrhopygus Friese, 1902. Bombusglacialis shares three unique COI haplotypes that may indicate its long-term (pre-glacial) persistence on Novaya Zemlya. In contrast, Bombushyperboreus and B.pyrrhopygus share a rather low molecular divergence from mainland populations, with the same or closely related haplotypes as those from Arctic Siberia and Norway. A brief re-description of Bombuspyrrhopygus based on the newly collected topotypes is presented. Habitats, foraging plants and life cycles of bumble bees on Novaya Zemlya are characterized, and possible causes of extremely low bumble bee abundance on the archipelago are discussed. The species-poor bumble bee fauna of Novaya Zemlya is compared with those in other areas throughout the Arctic. The mean bumble bee species richness on the Arctic Ocean islands is three times lower than that in the mainland Arctic areas (3.1 vs. 8.6 species per local fauna, respectively). General linear models (GLMs) indicate that this difference can be explained by specific environmental conditions of insular areas. Our findings highlight that the insularity is a significant factor sharply decreasing species richness in bumble bee assemblages on the Arctic Ocean archipelagoes through colder climate (lower summer temperatures), prevalence of harsh Arctic tundra landscapes with poor foraging resources, and in isolation from the mainland.

USBombus, a database of contemporary survey data for North American Bumble Bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Bombus) distributed in the United States.

BackgroundBumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Bombus) are pollinators of wild and economically important flowering plants. However, at least four bumble bee species have declined significantly in population abundance and geographic range relative to historic estimates, and one species is possibly extinct. While a wealth of historic data is now available for many of the North American species found to be in decline in online databases, systematic survey data of stable species is still not publically available. The availability of contemporary survey data is critically important for the future monitoring of wild bumble bee populations. Without such data, the ability to ascertain the conservation status of bumble bees in the United States will remain challenging.New informationThis paper describes USBombus, a large database that represents the outcomes of one of the largest standardized surveys of bumble bee pollinators (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Bombus) globally. The motivation to collect live bumble bees across the United States was to examine the decline and conservation status of Bombus affinis, B. occidentalis, B. pensylvanicus, and B. terricola. Prior to our national survey of bumble bees in the United States from 2007 to 2010, there have only been regional accounts of bumble bee abundance and richness. In addition to surveying declining bumble bees, we also collected and documented a diversity of co-occuring bumble bees. However we have not yet completely reported their distribution and diversity onto a public online platform. Now, for the first time, we report the geographic distribution of bumble bees reported to be in decline (Cameron et al. 2011), as well as bumble bees that appeared to be stable on a large geographic scale in the United States (not in decline). In this database we report a total of 17,930 adult occurrence records across 397 locations and 39 species of Bombus detected in our national survey. We summarize their abundance and distribution across the United States and association to different ecoregions. The geospatial coverage of the dataset extends across 41 of the 50 US states, and from 0 to 3500 m a.s.l. Authors and respective field crews spent a total of 512 hours surveying bumble bees from 2007 to 2010. The dataset was developed using SQL server 2008 r2. For each specimen, the following information is generally provided: species, name, sex, caste, temporal and geospatial details, Cartesian coordinates, data collector(s), and when available, host plants. This database has already proven useful for a variety of studies on bumble bee ecology and conservation. However it is not publicly available. Considering the value of pollinators in agriculture and wild ecosystems, this large database of bumble bees will likely prove useful for investigations of the effects of anthropogenic activities on pollinator community composition and conservation status.

On the Bumblebee Fauna of Turkey: IV. The Subgenera Megabombus, Eversmannibombus, Laesobombus, Rhodobombus and Subterraneobombus (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Bombini)

This part of the study of the occurrence, distribution and ecology of bumblebees in Turkey covers 12 species of the subgenera Megabombus Dalla Torre, Eversmannibombus Skorikov, Laesobombus Krüger, Rhodobombus Dalla Torre and Subterraneobombus Vogt. 3,144 specimens were collected. Bombus argillaceus (Scopoli) was the most widespread and abundant species, recorded from sea level up to 3500m in open areas. B. brodmanni denesi Tkalců is the least abundant taxon, with only five specimens collected in eastern Anatolia. B. fragrans (Pallas) was found in some localities of Inner and eastern Anatolia, and had a very low abundance with only 15 specimens. Both taxa should be classified as “endangered”. For each taxon, horizontal and vertical distribution, habitat and flowers visited are given.

The Importance of Population Processes for the Maintenance of Biological Diversity

The central question in ecology is why a certain species is present at a given site and absent at others. A common view is that the physical site conditions determine the distribution and abundance of species, and therefore patterns of species and ecosystem diversity. Results from research in population biology, including examples from our own multidisciplinary biodiversity research programme, demonstrate, however, that observed patterns of species diversity can often only be understood if the underlying population dynamic mechanisms and patterns of genetic diversity are also studied. Interactions among species and stochastic processes within and regional processes among local populations are important factors shaping communities and ecosystems. We show, for example, that effects of global change may lead to evolutionary adjustments within species, calling into question the predictions of models that treat themas invariant. Similarly, habitat destruction and fragmentation may not extinguish entire populations but alter biotic interactions or decrease genetic variation, which in turn reduces their chances for further survival. This was for example observed in isolated populations of the rare plant Gentianella germanica. A continued exchange of individuals and genes among local populations would be essential for the survival of this species. A parallel study demonstrated the importance of regional processes for the community ecology of bumble-bees: it revealed a positive correlation between local abundance and regional abundance among species. Scientists and conservationists should recognize that the protection of sites alone may not be sufficient to preserve biological diversity.The maintenance of interactions among species can be of equal importance. This requires the protection of populations of sufficient size or systems of connected populations known as metapopulations.

Bumblebee ecology in relation to the pollination of alfalfa and red clover

The ecology of bumblebees has been discussed under two major headings: (1) floral hosts and (2) populations. An understanding of the environmental factors that (1) affect the behavior of bumblebees in visiting flowers and (2) influence the production of a worker field force are basic to the utilisation of bumblebees in a practical way for the increased pollination, or more consistent pollination of alfalfa and red clover seed crops. Information is presented about the host plants in their seasonal succession, and the attractiveness of various flowers during the period of worker activity. Certain species of bumblebees are shown to differ in their preference of red clover and alfalfa. The initiation of colonies, the proper development of the brood, and the production of the workers have been related with ecological factors having major influence. Optimum conditions will be required for the culmination of a colony in a maximum force of worker bees at peak availability for pollination. Worker populations vary widely between species and among colonies of the same species. An elucidations of the reasons for the fluctuations will require additional biological and ecological research.