Small local population sizes and high habitat patch fidelity in a specialised solitary bee.
Author
Summary, in English
Andrena hattorfiana is a rare solitary bee which has declined during the last decades throughout western Europe. It is specialised to forage pollen from plants of the family Dipsacaceae. Knowledge of distribution, dispersal
propensity, and local population sizes is essential for successful conservation of A. hattorfiana. The investigated local bee populations (n = 78) were dominated by small local populations and 60% were smaller than 10 female individuals and 80% were smaller than 50 female individuals. The area of the median occupied habitat patch was 1.25 hectare and harboured 7 female bees. Mark-releaserecapture studies of female A. hattorfiana revealed a sedentary behaviour. Among pollen-foraging female bees the
average registered distance moved was 46 m. The patch emigration rate was about 2%, with an observed maximum colonization distance of 900 m. Only 10% of the individuals crossed areas without the pollen plant within grassland
patches, such as unpaved roads, stone walls and small treestands, even if these areas were less than 10 m wide. This study shows that solitary bees can occur in local populations of extremely small size and they have a sedentary behaviour. These are features that usually increase the risk
of local population extinction.
propensity, and local population sizes is essential for successful conservation of A. hattorfiana. The investigated local bee populations (n = 78) were dominated by small local populations and 60% were smaller than 10 female individuals and 80% were smaller than 50 female individuals. The area of the median occupied habitat patch was 1.25 hectare and harboured 7 female bees. Mark-releaserecapture studies of female A. hattorfiana revealed a sedentary behaviour. Among pollen-foraging female bees the
average registered distance moved was 46 m. The patch emigration rate was about 2%, with an observed maximum colonization distance of 900 m. Only 10% of the individuals crossed areas without the pollen plant within grassland
patches, such as unpaved roads, stone walls and small treestands, even if these areas were less than 10 m wide. This study shows that solitary bees can occur in local populations of extremely small size and they have a sedentary behaviour. These are features that usually increase the risk
of local population extinction.
Department/s
Publishing year
2009
Language
English
Pages
89-95
Publication/Series
Journal of Insect Conservation
Volume
13
Issue
1
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Springer
Topic
- Ecology
Keywords
- Andrena hattorfiana
- Knautia arvensis
- Apoidea
- Oligolecty
- Wild-bee
- Sedentary
- Metapopulation
- Dispersal
- Mark-recapture
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1366-638X