What do foraging wasps optimize in a variable environment, energy investment or body temperature?

Kovac, Helmut; Stabentheiner, Anton; Brodschneider, Robert

doi:10.1007/s00359-015-1033-4

Cited by 13 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Our experiments therefore provide direct empirical evidence that honeybees can optimise foraging not only by ‘switching’ between both strategies in reaction to environmental conditions but by a graded transition between both criteria, realized by regulating the key parameter body temperature up or down to achieve an optimal balance between intake rate and efficiency (or costs). Similar findings in Vespine wasps foraging at unlimited sucrose flow19 show that this dual optimisation is not restricted to honeybees but very likely represents a general principle in heterothermic insects with similar foraging practice.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 69%

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Honeybee economics: optimisation of foraging in a variable world

Stabentheiner

Kovac

2016

Sci Rep

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In honeybees fast and efficient exploitation of nectar and pollen sources is achieved by persistent endothermy throughout the foraging cycle, which means extremely high energy costs. The need for food promotes maximisation of the intake rate, and the high costs call for energetic optimisation. Experiments on how honeybees resolve this conflict have to consider that foraging takes place in a variable environment concerning microclimate and food quality and availability. Here we report, in simultaneous measurements of energy costs, gains, and intake rate and efficiency, how honeybee foragers manage this challenge in their highly variable environment. If possible, during unlimited sucrose flow, they follow an ‘investment-guided’ (‘time is honey’) economic strategy promising increased returns. They maximise net intake rate by investing both own heat production and solar heat to increase body temperature to a level which guarantees a high suction velocity. They switch to an ‘economizing’ (‘save the honey’) optimisation of energetic efficiency if the intake rate is restricted by the food source when an increased body temperature would not guarantee a high intake rate. With this flexible and graded change between economic strategies honeybees can do both maximise colony intake rate and optimise foraging efficiency in reaction to environmental variation.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 69%

“…2B) to guarantee a high ingestion rate (Figs 2C and 3A)10. The general validity of these regulatory principles and of the change between them is emphasized by similar findings in Vespine wasps foraging sucrose19.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 55%

Honeybee economics: optimisation of foraging in a variable world

Stabentheiner

Kovac

2016

Sci Rep

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“…Third, climate shapes plant and pollinator richness, composition and phenology and has been directly linked to network properties, including specialization (Petanidou et al, ). Temperature determines the costs of foraging flights in ectothermic pollinators (Kovac, Stabentheiner, & Brodschneider, ) and may thus modulate resource usage strategies in a way that species broaden their dietary spectrum in energy‐limited habitats (Miller‐Struttmann & Galen, ). Restricted foraging times due to persistent mist and/or temperatures below a threshold in which foraging is possible, should equally result in more generalized foraging.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Specialization of plant–pollinator interactions increases with temperature at Mt. Kilimanjaro

Claßen

Eardley

Hemp

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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Aim Species differ in their degree of specialization when interacting with other species, with significant consequences for the function and robustness of ecosystems. In order to better estimate such consequences, we need to improve our understanding of the spatial patterns and drivers of specialization in interaction networks. Methods Here, we used the extensive environmental gradient of Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania, East Africa) to study patterns and drivers of specialization, and robustness of plant–pollinator interactions against simulated species extinction with standardized sampling methods. We studied specialization, network robustness and other network indices of 67 quantitative plant–pollinator networks consisting of 268 observational hours and 4,380 plant–pollinator interactions along a 3.4 km elevational gradient. Using path analysis, we tested whether resource availability, pollinator richness, visitation rates, temperature, and/or area explain average specialization in pollinator communities. We further linked pollinator specialization to different pollinator taxa, and species traits, that is, proboscis length, body size, and species elevational ranges. Results We found that specialization decreased with increasing elevation at different levels of biological organization. Among all variables, mean annual temperature was the best predictor of average specialization in pollinator communities. Specialization differed between pollinator taxa, but was not related to pollinator traits. Network robustness against simulated species extinctions of both plants and pollinators was lowest in the most specialized interaction networks, that is, in the lowlands. Conclusions Our study uncovers patterns in plant–pollinator specialization along elevational gradients. Mean annual temperature was closely linked to pollinator specialization. Energetic constraints, caused by short activity timeframes in cold highlands, may force ectothermic species to broaden their dietary spectrum. Alternatively or in addition, accelerated evolutionary rates might facilitate the establishment of specialization under warm climates. Despite the mechanisms behind the patterns have yet to be fully resolved, our data suggest that temperature shifts in the course of climate change may destabilize pollination networks by affecting network architecture.

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“…The New Zealand mainland and offshore islands have been subject to significant deforestation following Polynesian and European settlement (McGlone, ; Ministry for the Environment & Statistics New Zealand, ; Wilmshurst et al, ). Deforestation might increase wasp abundance as Vespula and Polistes prefer open habitats (Beggs et al, ; Clapperton et al, ; Gamboa, Austin, & Monnet, ), for instance because low canopy cover increases solar radiation thereby reducing energetic expenditure of wasps (Kovac et al, ). Furthermore, the removal of canopy cover is often associated with the establishment of exotic plant species (Charbonneau & Fahrig, ) that could facilitate invasion by wasps via the enhanced provision of nectar and arthropod prey (Morales & Aizen, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Second, because propagule pressure decreases with distance from the source pool (i.e., mainland, Lockwood, Cassey, & Blackburn, ), we predicted wasp abundance to be negatively correlated with island isolation. Third, wasps generally prefer open habitats (Clapperton, Tilley, & Pierce, ; Dvořák, Castor, & Roberts, ) and forage more efficiently under direct sunlight (Kovac, Stabentheiner, & Brotschneider, ). Open habitats are also readily colonized by exotic plants (Charbonneau & Fahrig, ) that provide resources for exotic insects and thereby facilitate their invasion (Morales & Aizen, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biogeography and anthropogenic impact shape the success of invasive wasps on New Zealand's offshore islands

Schmack

Schleuning

Ward

et al. 2020

Diversity and Distributions

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Aim The theory of island biogeography predicts that the susceptibility of an island to invasion is determined by its isolation and size. However, many island ecosystems have been intensely modified by humans. Here, we investigated the biogeographic, biotic and anthropogenic drivers of invasive social wasps on 36 offshore islands. Location Islands off the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. Taxa Vespula germanica (Fabricius, 1793), Vespula vulgaris (Linnaeus, 1758) and Polistes chinensis antennalis (Fabricius, 1793), Polistes humilis (Fabricius, 1781). Methods We used GIS software for in situ randomization of plots on each island (36 islands, 409 plots) and conducted 5‐min wasp counts to estimate wasp abundance. Wasp abundance and canopy cover were recorded at each plot. Island isolation was measured using GIS software. Data on island size, human settlement and the presence of introduced rats (Rattus spp.) were collated from the literature and island managers. The number of boat docks per island was counted from satellite images. A generalized linear mixed‐effect model (GLMM) was fitted to identify drivers of Vespula and Polistes abundance on offshore islands. Results The abundance of Vespula was negatively correlated with island isolation and canopy cover, yet positively correlated with island size. Vespula were also more abundant on islands that have been settled by humans. The abundance of Polistes was negatively correlated with canopy cover. Finally, results did not support the notion that invasive wasps were associated with introduced rats on New Zealand's offshore islands. Conclusions Our findings highlight the importance of biogeographic factors, such as island size and isolation, for species invasions, and suggest that intact forest cover could contribute to biotic resistance to invasive wasps in island ecosystems. Studies of invasive species should consider the joint effects of biogeographic, biotic and anthropogenic factors to best inform conservation management.

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What do foraging wasps optimize in a variable environment, energy investment or body temperature?

Cited by 13 publications

References 40 publications

Honeybee economics: optimisation of foraging in a variable world

Honeybee economics: optimisation of foraging in a variable world

Specialization of plant–pollinator interactions increases with temperature at Mt. Kilimanjaro

Biogeography and anthropogenic impact shape the success of invasive wasps on New Zealand's offshore islands

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