Space use of bumblebees (Bombus spp.) revealed by radio-tracking.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Accurate estimates of movement behavior and distances travelled by animals are difficult to obtain, especially for small-bodied insects where transmitter weights have prevented the use of radio-tracking.

Methodology/principal findings

Here, we report the first successful use of micro radio telemetry to track flight distances and space use of bumblebees. Using ground surveys and Cessna overflights in a Central European rural landscape mosaic we obtained maximum flight distances of 2.5 km, 1.9 km and 1.3 km for Bombus terrestris (workers), Bombus ruderatus (worker), and Bombus hortorum (young queens), respectively. Bumblebee individuals used large areas (0.25-43.53 ha) within one or a few days. Habitat analyses of one B. hortorum queen at the landscape scale indicat

SUBMITTER: Hagen M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3095635 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature