A model of resource partitioning between foraging bees based on positive and negative associations

Abstract

Central place foraging pollinators tend to develop multi-destination routes (traplines) to exploit several patchily distributed plant resources. While the formation of traplines by individual pollinators has been studied in details, how populations of individuals exploit resources in a common area is an open question difficult to address experimentally. Here we explored conditions for the emergence of resource partitioning among traplining bees using agent-based models built from experimental data of bumblebees foraging on artificial flowers. In the models, bees learn to develop routes as a consequence of feedback loops that change their probabilities of moving between flowers. While a positive reinforcement of route segments leading to rewarding flowers is sufficient for the emergence of resource partitioning when flowers are evenly distributed, a negative reinforcement of route segments leading to unrewarding flowers is necessary when flowers are patchily distributed. In these more complex environments, the negative experiences of individual bees favour the spatial segregation of foragers and high levels of collective foraging efficiency.