Nest-site competition between bumblebees (Bombidae), social wasps (Vespidae) and cavity-nesting birds in Britain and the Western Palearctic

Abstract

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Contribution of European forests to safeguard wild honeybee populations

“…For instance, we used a fixed estimate of cavity size used by wild honeybees, although it could vary with latitude and elevation, given that climate (and in particular winter duration) could affect the colony size and the amount of food reserve needed to overwinter (Nürnberger, Härtel, & Steffan‐Dewenter, ). We also used a fixed‐occupation‐rate estimate due to a lack of data on variability among different forest and management types, or on the potential competition between woodpeckers, honeybees, and other secondary cavity nesters for access to large cavities (see Broughton et al., for an analysis of competition between taxa).…”

Microclimate in tree cavities and nest-boxes: Implications for hole-nesting birds

“…Nest-boxes that are drier than tree cavities could have some advantages for breeding birds, such as a lower risk of nest-soaking (reviewed in Wesołowski, 2011;Wesołowski and Martin, in press), though a low humidity could also carry risks. The relatively dry and warm environment in nest-boxes can be attractive to nesting Aculeata bees and wasps, which may be significant competitors of birds that are capable of deterring or usurping nesting passerines from nest-boxes, but they are rarely found in tree cavities (Broughton et al, 2015). Similarly, the drier and warmer environment of nest-boxes may foster the occurrence and development of flea larvae in bird nests (Eeva et al, 1994;Heeb et al, 2000), facilitating flea infestations in nest-boxes but explaining the low occurrence of these ectoparasites in tree cavities (Wesołowski and Stańska, 2001;Hebda and Wesołowski, 2012).…”

Cavity occupancy by wild honey bees: need for evidence of ecological impacts

“…Anecdotal evidence of competition is possibly biased by detectability (ie people are more likely to witness competition occurring in experimental systems when they are monitoring nest boxes or designated cavities). For example, a study of nest-site competition among bumblebees, social wasps, and cavity-nesting birds in the northern hemisphere found no empirical evidence of widespread competition, and concluded that anecdotal evidence appears to be a "nest-box phenomenon", whereby social insects may occasionally interfere with nest-box studies but their effect appeared to be negligible in natural nests (Broughton et al 2015).…”