Site constancy of bumble bees in an experimentally patchy habitat

摘要: Habitat fragmentation alters the spatial and temporal distribution of floral resources in farmland. This will affect foraging behaviour bees utilising these consequently pollen flow within between patches flowering plants. One element bees’ behaviour, which is likely to be affected, degree individual remain constant a particular site or patch, both trips. Mark-re-observation was used investigate whether bumble showed constancy over several days regular forage, even when those contained qualitatively quantitatively similar resources. The authors also investigated affected by arrangement area. experimental arena field barley containing grass/herb mixture, including Centaurea nigra L. (black knapweed) provided nectar for bees, particularly Bombus lapidarius Patches were either contiguous non-contiguous patch groups. Twenty 28% marked B. re-observed during week following marking. number re-observations decreased time probably because density decreased, sought alternative forage elsewhere they died from natural causes. striking constancy: 86‐88% group (27 27 m 2 45 ) fewer small .9 9m / group. Most observed moves groups adjacent on marked. There limited evidence that more 9 surrounded (70‐73% constant) than (20‐50% constant). implications bee plant gene arable ecosystem are discussed. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.