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Journal Article

Distribution and forage use of exotic bumblebees in South Island, New Zealand

01 Jan 2004-New Zealand Journal of Ecology (New Zealand Ecological Society)-Vol. 28, Iss: 2, pp 225-232
TL;DR: Results provide support for the hypothesis that the loss of flower-rich meadows, particularly those containing populations of Fabaceae species with long corollae, is responsible for the decline of bumblebee species across Europe.
Abstract: The rapid decline in bumblebee populations within Europe has been linked to habitat loss through agricultural intensification, and a consequential reduction in the availability of preferred forage plants. The successful introduction of four European Bombus species to the South Island of New Zealand from England (in 1885 and 1906) provides an opportunity to determine how important different forage plants (also introduced from the U.K.) are to two severely threatened European bumblebee species (Bombus ruderatus and B. subterraneus). In January 2003 we conducted a survey of bumblebee populations across 70 sites in the central and southern South Island, recording which plant species were being used as pollen and nectar sources for each Bombus species. All four bumblebee species showed a clear preference for plants of European origin. Only B. terrestris, the most polylectic species, was recorded feeding on native plant species. The longer-tongued bumblebees, B. hortorum, B. ruderatus, and B. subterraneus, foraged predominantly on just two plant species; Trifolium pratense for both nectar and pollen, and Echium vulgare for nectar. These plant species are now declining in abundance in the U.K. Our results provide support for the hypothesis that the loss of flower-rich meadows, particularly those containing populations of Fabaceae species with long corollae, is responsible for the decline of bumblebee species across Europe. Comparison with earlier bumblebee surveys suggests that long-tongued bumblebees may also be in decline in New Zealand, particularly B. subterraneus which is now very localised and scarce.

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Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Experiments formally linking such parameters with flight performance may help to explain the observed quick and wide spread of this alien species in Patagonia in the last few years.

7 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
28 Feb 2022-Insects
TL;DR: In this article , the authors identify all non-native bees among 11,275 bees previously collected from 45 species of flowering woody plants across hundreds of urban sites, including the ubiquitous honey bee, and six other nonnative bee species comprised 2.9% of the total collection.
Abstract: Simple Summary Bees and other pollinators play a vital role in food production and natural ecosystems. Native bee populations are declining due in part to habitat loss. Individuals can help bees by landscaping with plants that provide pollen and nectar. Most information on bee-friendly plants concerns herbaceous ornamentals, but flowering trees and shrubs, too, can provide food for urban bees. Conservation organizations recommend landscaping mainly with native plants to support native bees, but some studies suggest that including some non-invasive non-native plants that bloom earlier or later than native plants can help support bees when resources from native plants are scarce. That strategy might backfire, however, if such plants disproportionately host invasive bee species. This study tested that hypothesis by identifying all non-native bees among 11,275 bees previously collected from 45 species of flowering woody plants across hundreds of urban sites. Besides the ubiquitous honey bee, six other non-native bee species comprised 2.9% of the total collection. Two alien species considered to have invasive tendencies by outcompeting native bees were more abundant on non-native plants. Planting their favored hosts might facilitate those bees’ spread in urban areas. Pros and cons of non-native woody landscape plants for urban bee conservation warrant further study. Abstract Urban ecosystems can support diverse communities of wild native bees. Because bloom times are conserved by geographic origin, incorporating some non-invasive non-native plants in urban landscapes can extend the flowering season and help support bees and other pollinators during periods when floral resources from native plants are limiting. A caveat, though, is the possibility that non-native plants might disproportionately host non-native, potentially invasive bee species. We tested that hypothesis by identifying all non-native bees among 11,275 total bees previously collected from 45 species of flowering woody landscape plants across 213 urban sites. Honey bees, Apis mellifera L., accounted for 22% of the total bees and 88.6% of the non-native bees in the collections. Six other non-native bee species, accounting for 2.86% of the total, were found on 16 non-native and 11 native woody plant species. Non-Apis non-native bees in total, and Osmia taurus Smith and Megachile sculpturalis (Smith), the two most abundant species, were significantly more abundant on non-native versus native plants. Planting of favored non-native hosts could potentially facilitate establishment and spread of non-Apis non-native bees in urban areas. Our host records may be useful for tracking those bees’ distribution in their introduced geographical ranges.

6 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is highlighted the importance of regulating foreign Bombus terrestris subspecies importation for agriculture purposes, as well as monitoring B. niveatus vorticosus and B. melanurus that are rendered vulnerable by their isolated populations.
Abstract: West Palearctic bumblebees are common wildflowers and crop pollinators that are well studied in their central and northern distribution ranges, but fewer information is available on their southern ...

5 citations

Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 2012
TL;DR: Evidence is provided that Apis competitively suppresses a native social bee known to be an important pollinator, with the potential for cascading effects on native plant communities.
Abstract: Biological invasions represent both an increasingly important applied problem and a tool for gaining insight into the structure of ecological communities. Although competitive interactions between invasive and native species are considered among the most important mechanisms driving invasion dynamics, such interactions are in general poorly understood. The European honey bee (Apis mellifera) is a widespread and economically important invader that now has a near-global distribution long suspected to competitively suppress many native bee species. Besides, various bumblebees (Bombus sp.), the alfalfa leafcutter bee Megachile rotundata, and various other solitary species have been introduced to countries far beyond their home range. Possible negative consequences of these introductions include: competition with native pollinators for floral resources; competition for nest sites; co-introduction of natural enemies, particularly pathogens that may infect native organisms; pollination of exotic weeds; and disruption of pollination of native plants. Interspecific competition for a limited resource can result in the reduction of survival, growth and/or reproduction in one of the species involved. As the impact of honey bees on native bees depends on the resource quality and quantity, it is recommended to assess the habitat quality in relation to its fauna by experts before any introduction of bee hives to deduce the number of hives, which can be introduced with a minimum impact. Thomson (Ecology 85:458–470, 2004) reported that Bombus occidentalis colonies exposed to competition with Apis experienced increased nectar scarcity and responded by reallocating foragers from pollen to nectar collection, resulting in lowered rates of larval production. These results provide evidence that Apis competitively suppresses a native social bee known to be an important pollinator, with the potential for cascading effects on native plant communities. Likewise introduction of Apis mellifera eliminated Apis cerana japonica in China and Japan and Apis cerana indica in Indian subcontinent including India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and other neighbouring countries. How Apis influences native communities is of particular interest in light of both growing concerns over declines of many native pollinator species and uncertainty about the implications of disease-driven Apis declines and the spread of Africanized Apis strains. Negative impacts of exotic bees need to be carefully assessed before further introductions are carried out.

5 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results suggest that corridors of continuous habitat are required to facilitate gene flow over large distances for this species, and it is demonstrated that a relatively simple classification of the landscape, into either good or poor foraging habitat at coarse resolution, can predict levels of gene flow.
Abstract: One of the primary reasons for the decline of some bumblebee species has been habitat loss and fragmentation through land use change. Habitat fragmentation can limit connectivity between populations and gene flow between bumblebee populations can be limited by open water and human altered landscapes, however the influence of landscape features on gene flow has only been examined in non-declining species. The ruderal bumblebee, Bombus ruderatus, was successfully introduced to and is now relatively common in New Zealand, providing an opportunity to examine the biology of a species that is now rare in its native range in the UK. In this study, we examine the genetic structuring of B. ruderatus populations in the South Island of New Zealand and we demonstrate that a relatively simple classification of the landscape, into either good or poor foraging habitat at coarse resolution (800 m2), can predict levels of gene flow. We found populations of B. ruderatus as far apart as 160 km showing no significant genetic differentiation. However, this level of gene flow appears to be reliant upon continuous suitable habitat, as other populations <100 km apart were found to be significantly differentiated. These results suggest that corridors of continuous habitat are required to facilitate gene flow over large distances for this species.

5 citations

References
More filters
Book
30 Sep 1988
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors define definitions of diversity and apply them to the problem of measuring species diversity, choosing an index and interpreting diversity measures, and applying them to structural and structural diversity.
Abstract: Definitions of diversity. Measuring species diversity. Choosing an index and interpreting diversity measures. Sampling problems. Structural diversity. Applications of diversity measures. Summary.

10,957 citations


"Distribution and forage use of exot..." refers background in this paper

  • ...This index is insensitive to sample size (Magurran, 1988), important because samples are inevitably larger for the more common species....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jan 1949-Nature
TL;DR: In this article, the authors define and examine a measure of concentration in terms of population constants, and examine the relationship between the characteristic and the index of diversity when both are applied to a logarithmic distribution.
Abstract: THE 'characteristic' defined by Yule1 and the 'index of diversity' defined by Fisher2 are two measures of the degree of concentration or diversity achieved when the individuals of a population are classified into groups. Both are defined as statistics to be calculated from sample data and not in terms of population constants. The index of diversity has so far been used chiefly with the logarithmic distribution. It cannot be used everywhere, as it does not always give values which are independent of sample size ; it cannot do so, for example, when applied to an infinite population of individuals classified into a finite number of groups. Williams3 has pointed out a relationship between the characteristic and the index of diversity when both are applied to a logarithmic distribution. The present purpose is to define and examine a measure of concentration in terms of population constants.

10,077 citations


"Distribution and forage use of exot..." refers methods in this paper

  • ...To compare the diet breadth of the species recorded, a Simpson’s index was calculated for the diversity of flowers visited (Simpson, 1949):...

    [...]

  • ...To compare the diet breadth of the species recorded, a Simpson’s index was calculated for the diversity of flowers visited (Simpson, 1949): where ni is the number of flowers of the ith species that were visited, N is the total number of flowers visited, and s is the total number of flower species…...

    [...]

Book
01 Jan 1988

1,150 citations


"Distribution and forage use of exot..." refers background in this paper

  • ...In addition to T. pratense and L. corniculatus, both of which are highly dependent on insects for pollination (Grime et al., 1988), we found substantial numbers of bumblebees visiting lupin (Lupinus arboreus and L. polyphyllus), thistles (Cirsium vulgare), and broom (Cytisus scoparius)....

    [...]

  • ...Although H. perforatum is believed to be increasing in abundance in the U.K., the other main forage plants we identified in New Zealand (E. vulgare, L. corniculatus and T. pratense) are all declining (Grime et al., 1988; Rich and Woodruff, 1996)....

    [...]

  • ...Each of these species is known to depend substantially or wholly on bee pollinators in order to reproduce (Grime et al., 1988; Stout, 2000; Stout et al., 2002)....

    [...]

  • ...corniculatus, both of which are highly dependent on insects for pollination (Grime et al., 1988), we found substantial numbers of bumblebees visiting lupin (Lupinus arboreus and L....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Negative impacts of exotic bees need to be carefully assessed before further introductions are carried out.
Abstract: Bees are generally regarded as beneficial insects for their role in pollination, and in the case of the honeybee Apis mellifera, for production of honey. As a result several bee species have been introduced to countries far beyond their home range, including A. mellifera, bumblebees (Bombus sp.), the alfalfa leafcutter bee Megachile rotundata, and various other solitary species. Possible negative consequences of these introductions include: competition with native pollinators for floral resources; competition for nest sites; co-introduction of natural enemies, particularly pathogens that may infect native organisms; pollination of exotic weeds; and disruption of pollination of native plants. For most exotic bee species little or nothing is known of these possible effects. Research to date has focused mainly on A. mellifera, and has largely been concerned with detecting competition with native flower visitors. Considerable circumstantial evidence has accrued that competition does occur, but no experiment has clearly demonstrated long-term reductions in populations of native organisms. Most researchers agree that this probably reflects the difficulty of carrying out convincing studies of competition between such mobile organisms, rather than a genuine absence of competitive effects. Effects on seed set of exotic weeds are easier to demonstrate. Exotic bees often exhibit marked preferences for visiting flowers of exotic plants. For example, in Australia and New Zealand many weeds from Europe are now visited by European honeybees and bumblebees. Introduced bees are primary pollinators of a number of serious weeds. Negative impacts of exotic bees need to be carefully assessed before further introductions are carried out.

648 citations


"Distribution and forage use of exot..." refers background or result in this paper

  • ...It seems likely that, in Europe at least, agricultural intensification is primarily responsible for the decline of many bumblebee species (Rasmont, 1988; Osborne and Corbet, 1994; Goulson, 2003a), although it is difficult to provide unequivocal evidence....

    [...]

  • ...of many bumblebee species (Rasmont, 1988; Osborne and Corbet, 1994; Goulson, 2003a), although it is difficult to provide unequivocal evidence....

    [...]

  • ...Our results lend further support to the claim that exotic (bumble- and honey-) bees are important pollinators of various weeds (Sugden et al., 1996; Stout et al., 2002; Goulson, 2003b; Hanley and Goulson, 2003)....

    [...]

  • ...Both B. terrestris and B. hortorum, by contrast, remain common throughout most of Northwestern Europe (Goulson, 2003a)....

    [...]

Book
01 Jan 2003
TL;DR: This book discusses social organisation and conflict in bumblebee communities, foraging economics, and the effects of introduced bees on native ecosystems.
Abstract: 1. Introduction 2. Thermoregulation 3. Social organisation and conflict 4. Finding a mate 5. Natural enemies 6. Foraging Economics 7. Foraging range 8. Exploitation of patchy resources 9. Choice of flower species 10. Intraspecific floral choices 11. Communication during foraging 12. Competition in bumblebee communities 13. Bumblebees as pollinators 14. Conservation 15. Bumblebees abroad effects of introduced bees on native ecosystems

360 citations


"Distribution and forage use of exot..." refers background or result in this paper

  • ...It seems likely that, in Europe at least, agricultural intensification is primarily responsible for the decline of many bumblebee species (Rasmont, 1988; Osborne and Corbet, 1994; Goulson, 2003a), although it is difficult to provide unequivocal evidence....

    [...]

  • ...Our results lend further support to the claim that exotic (bumble- and honey-) bees are important pollinators of various weeds (Sugden et al., 1996; Stout et al., 2002; Goulson, 2003b; Hanley and Goulson, 2003)....

    [...]

  • ...Both B. terrestris and B. hortorum, by contrast, remain common throughout most of Northwestern Europe (Goulson, 2003a)....

    [...]