Bumble bee pollen foraging on lupine (Lupinus: Fabaceae): within-whorl decisions
Graduation Date
2000
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Other
Program
Thesis (M.A.)--Humboldt State University, Biology, 2000
Committee Chair Name
Michael Mesler
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Lupine, Bumblebees, Humboldt State University -- Theses -- Biology, Lupinus: Fabaceae, Foraging efficiency
Abstract
Bumble bees (Bombus: Apidae) can maximize foraging efficiency in a resource-patchy environment by visiting mainly rewarding flowers and avoiding those that are either empty or less rewarding. This study investigated how bumble bees avoid unrewarding flowers of lupine (Lupinus: Fabaceae), a plant in which the pollen is hidden from view. I recorded whether bees left a whorl upon encountering various situations. Bumble bees clearly discriminated against flowers that showed unambiguous visual signs of being unrewarding. In the absence of any visual cues, bees made use of a presumably predictable spatial distribution of pollen within whorls. They were able to assess the amount of pollen collected per flower, and they departed upon encountering one or more unrewarding flowers. Bees did not use pollen scent to avoid unrewarding flowers, which cannot be identified by scent alone. By basing their foraging decisions only on the most reliable signals bumble bees may have maximized their pollen return.
Recommended Citation
Semsrott, Birgit, "Bumble bee pollen foraging on lupine (Lupinus: Fabaceae): within-whorl decisions" (2000). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 1794.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/1794
https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/theses/00000266h