← Back to PublicationsJournal Article

Trapline foraging by bumblebees: I. Persistence of flight-path geometry

Authors: Thomson, J. D.
Year: 1996
Journal: Behavioral Ecology, Vol. 7, pp. 158-164
Publisher: UNKNOWN
DOI: 10.1093/beheco/7.2.158
Keywords: ANIMAL BEHAVIOR, BOMBUS, FORAGING, OPTIMAL FORAGING, PENSTEMON STRICTUS, RMBL

Abstract

By setting out arrays of potted plants of Penstemon strictus, I tested whether freely foraging bumblebee (Bombus spp.) workers would establish regular foraging routes that reflected the geometry of the array. They did, passing through an asymmetrical array in a pattern that minimized interplant flight distances. After the array was changed to a symmetrical pattern, however, the experienced bees continued to show their previous asymmetrical flight patterns. New bees without experience on the asymmetrical array showed no asymmetry on the symmetrical array. I term this persistence of flight-path geometry "trapline holdover," and discuss its implications for the study of animals' learning and foraging behavior.

Local Knowledge Graph (5 entities)

Loading graph...

Knowledge graph centered on Trapline foraging by bumblebees: I. Persistence of with 6 nodes and 7 connections. Top connected: Pollen presentation and pollination syndromes, wit, Trapline foraging by pollinators: its ontogeny, ec, Efficient harvesting of renewing resources, Site fidelity by bees drives pollination facilitat, Invasive plants and water availablity mediate outc.