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An interspecific comparison of foraging range and nest density of four bumblebee (Bombus) species

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Roderick Hale, Dr Roy SandersonORCiD

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Abstract

Bumblebees are major pollinators of crops and wildflowers in northern temperate regions. Knowledge of their ecology is vital for the design of effective management and conservation strategies but key aspects remain poorly understood. Here we employed microsatellite markers to estimate and compare foraging range and nest density among four UK species: Bombus terrestris, Bombus pascuorum, Bombus lapidarius, and Bombus pratorum. Workers were sampled along a 1.5-km linear transect across arable farmland. Eight or nine polymorphic microsatellite markers were then used to identify putative sisters. In accordance with previous studies, minimum estimated maximum foraging range was greatest for B. terrestris (758 m) and least for B. pascuorum (449 m). The estimate for B. lapidanus was similar to B. pascuorum (450 m), while that of B. pratorum was intermediate (674 m). Since the area of forage available to bees increases as the square of foraging range, these differences correspond to a threefold variation in the area used by bumblebee nests of different species. Possible explanations for these differences are discussed. Estimates for nest density at the times of sampling were 29, 68, 117, and 26/km2 for B. terrestris, B. pascuorum, B. lapidarius and B. pratorum, respectively. These data suggest that even among the most common British bumblebee species, significant differences in fundamental aspects of their ecology exist, a finding that should be reflected in management and conservation strategies. © 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Knight ME, Martin AP, Bishop S, Osborne JL, Hale RJ, Sanderson RA, Goulson D

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Molecular Ecology

Year: 2005

Volume: 14

Issue: 6

Pages: 1811-1820

Print publication date: 01/05/2005

ISSN (print): 0962-1083

ISSN (electronic): 1365-294X

Publisher: Wiley

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2005.02540.x

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2005.02540.x

PubMed id: 15836652


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
BB/E000932/1Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

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