Social bees are fitter in more biodiverse environments

Publikation: Beiträge in ZeitschriftenZeitschriftenaufsätzeForschungbegutachtet

Authors

  • Benjamin F. Kaluza
  • Helen M. Wallace
  • Tim A. Heard
  • Vanessa Minden
  • Alexandra Klein
  • Sara D. Leonhardt

Bee population declines are often linked to human impacts, especially habitat and biodiversity loss, but empirical evidence is lacking. To clarify the link between biodiversity loss and bee decline, we examined how floral diversity affects (reproductive) fitness and population growth of a social stingless bee. For the first time, we related available resource diversity and abundance to resource (quality and quantity) intake and colony reproduction, over more than two years. Our results reveal plant diversity as key driver of bee fitness. Social bee colonies were fitter and their populations grew faster in more florally diverse environments due to a continuous supply of food resources. Colonies responded to high plant diversity with increased resource intake and colony food stores. Our findings thus point to biodiversity loss as main reason for the observed bee decline.

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummer12353
ZeitschriftScientific Reports
Jahrgang8
Ausgabenummer1
Anzahl der Seiten10
ISSN2045-2322
DOIs
PublikationsstatusErschienen - 01.12.2018

Bibliographische Notiz

Funding Information:
The authors thank Rhys Smith, Julia Nagler, Manuel Pützstück, Birte Hensen, Mia Kaluza and Marvin Schäfer for assistance with field work and Andrea Hilpert for analysing pollen amino acid profiles. We thank Sahara Farms, Macadamia Farm Management Pty Ltd and Maroochy Bushland Botanic Gardens, as well as numerous private land and garden owners who hosted our bee colonies. We are further very grateful for the insightful comments of two anonymous reviewers whose efforts greatly improved the presentation of our study. BFK received funding from the German Academic Exchange Agency (DAAD). Funding was provided by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG project: LE 2750/1-1) and the University of Wuerzburg in the funding programme Open Access Publishing.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, The Author(s).

DOI

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