The relationship between preference and switching in flower foraging by bees

Papaj, Daniel R.; Russell, Avery L.

doi:10.1007/s00265-024-03456-5

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…A closer look at the behavioral preference or lack thereof, shows that there are multiple steps involved including bees transitioning between feeding stations actively assessing pollen types before collection but also returning to a dish that was previously passed over, after having collected a one of the pollen types. Such re-visitation of a rejected dish is indicative of the process by which generalist bees incorporate plant species diversity into their foraging route and track available resources in a foraging arena 38 , 54 . Polylecty, generalized floral preference by pollinators, allows for close surveillance and exploitation of diverse floral resources, maintaining constancy to a rewarding patch or species while tracking the ongoing phenological fluxes 55 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pollen foraging preferences in honey bees and the nutrient profiles of the pollen

Yokota,

Broeckling,

H.S.

2024

Sci Rep

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Honey bees are important insect pollinators that provide critical pollination services to fruit and nut crops in the US. They face challenges likely due to pressures associated with agricultural intensification related habitat loss. To better understand this, pollen preferences of foraging bees and the nutritional profile of pollen brought into hives by foraging bees in crop fields and nut orchards can provide valuable information. We trained bees to forage on bee-collected pollen from hives placed for pollination services in almond orchards, sunflower fields, or mixed species from inter-row plantings. Using bees trained to a certain kind of hive pollen, we applied a binary scoring system, to test preferences of these preconditioned foragers. We also performed metabolomic analyses of the hive pollen used for training and testing to elucidate their nutritional content. Irrespective of preconditioning, bees collected all the available choice pollen types, predominantly choosing hive-collected mixed species pollen (MSP), followed by almond orchard pollen. The hive-collected MSP was chemically diverse, richest in cholesterol, vitamins, and phytochemicals quercetin, kaempferol, coumarin, and quinine, but was not consistently high for essential amino acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Although diversity in chemical profiles may not directly relate to plant species diversity, our results suggest that foragers collect a variety of pollen types when available reiterating the importance of diverse floral resources.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pollen foraging preferences in honey bees and the nutrient profiles of the pollen

Yokota,

Broeckling,

H.S.

2024

Sci Rep

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“…Our results thus confirm and extend those of Ramos et al (2017), who also found no effect of flower handling experience by nectar-foraging butterflies on pollinia transfer. Finally, our work has particular relevance for understanding why pollinators such as bees often exhibit floral fidelity (i.e., flower constancy), a pattern of behavior hypothesized to benefit pollinators and to drive flower evolution (Waser 1986; Chittka et al 1999; Gruter and Ratnieks 2011; Muth et al 2015; Ramos et al 2017; Papaj and Russell 2024). Costs associated with learning a given flower type are often thought to facilitate floral fidelity, but time penalties incurred while learning to efficiently handle flowers are often small (as we found here) and thus likely insufficient to facilitate floral fidelity (Woodward and Laverty 1992; Gegear and Laverty 1995; Chittka et al 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Learning to handle flowers increases pollen collection benefits for bees but does not affect pollination success for plants

Mayberry,

Naumer,

Novinger

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Behavior frequently affects cooperation as well as conflict in plant-pollinator interactions. Pollinators such as bees often modify how they handle flowers with experience and such learning is generally assumed to increase collection of floral food rewards. The complexity of flower morphology also affects how quickly pollinators learn and recall how to access floral rewards from a given flower type. Because learning to handle a flower can increase extraction of food rewards (such as pollen) and often involves the pollinator altering how it interacts with the flower's reproductive organs, pollinator learning could affect pollination success. Yet how pollinator cognition and flower morphology interact to affect pollination success is unknown. We therefore asked how learning and memory of flower handling by pollen-foraging generalist bumble bees (Bombus impatiens) varied among four morphologically distinct flower types (Phacelia campanularia, Exacum affine, Solanum elaeagnifolium, and Erythranthe guttata) and affected pollen collection and pollen deposition on these flowers. We found that bees learned and remembered how to handle some flower types more quickly than others. Learning typically involved development of motor routines unique to each flower type. While bees invariably learned to improve pollen collection, how quickly bees learned and remembered each flower type did not affect pollen collection. Surprisingly, pollen deposition on flowers was not affected by bee foraging experience. Thus, even though learning benefits the bee, it does not alter female (and potentially male) fitness benefits for the plant. We discuss potential reasons for these patterns and consequences for bee behavior and flower evolution.

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Learning to handle flowers increases pollen collection for bees but does not affect pollination success for plants

Mayberry,

Naumer,

Novinger

et al. 2024

Behavioral Ecology

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Cooperation and conflict are common in plant-pollinator interactions. Flowering plants often entice pollinators to visit by offering floral food rewards, thereby facilitating pollination. However, pollinators such as bees can learn to improve their collection of floral rewards (such as pollen), changing how they interact with the flower’s reproductive organs, which together could reduce pollination success. Consequently, complex flowers that slow pollinator learning might benefit the plant. Yet how pollinator learning and flower complexity interact to affect pollination success is unknown. We therefore asked how differences in complexity of four flower types (Phacelia campanularia, Exacum affine, Solanum elaeagnifolium, and Erythranthe guttata) affected learning by pollen-foraging generalist bumble bees (Bombus impatiens) and how learning affected pollen collection and pollen deposition on these flowers. We found that bees generally learned how to efficiently handle more complex flower types more slowly. Bees that required more visits to become efficient foragers collected less pollen, with no effect on pollen deposition. Except for the simplest flower type, learning also involved development of motor routines unique to each flower type. Experienced bees overall collected more pollen, but individual differences in motor routines did not affect pollen collection. Conversely, individual differences in motor routines affected pollen deposition, but there was no overall effect of experience. Thus, even though learning overall benefits the bee, it does not alter female (and potentially male) fitness benefits for the plant. We discuss potential reasons for these patterns and consequences for bee behavior and flower evolution.

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The relationship between preference and switching in flower foraging by bees

Cited by 3 publications

References 56 publications

Pollen foraging preferences in honey bees and the nutrient profiles of the pollen

Pollen foraging preferences in honey bees and the nutrient profiles of the pollen

Learning to handle flowers increases pollen collection benefits for bees but does not affect pollination success for plants

Learning to handle flowers increases pollen collection for bees but does not affect pollination success for plants

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