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"Bumblebees: Behaviour, Ecology, and Conservation" "Goulson, Dave"

By: Material type: TextTextPublication details: United Kingdom Oxford University Press 17/09/2009Edition: 2nd Revised editionDescription: 336 PaperbackISBN:
  • 9780199553075
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 595.79915 DAV
Summary: "Bumblebees are familiar and charismatic insects, occurring throughout much of the world. They are increasingly being used as a model organism for studying a wide range of ecological and behavioural concepts, such as social organization, optimal foraging theories, host-parasite interactions, and pollination. Recently they have become a focus for conservationists due to mounting evidence of range contractions and catastrophic extinctions with some species disappearing from entire continents (e.g. in North America). Only by improving our understanding of their ecology can we devise sensible plans to conserve them. The role of bumblebees as invasive species (e.g. Bombus terrestris in Japan) has also become topical with the growing trade in commercial bumblebee nests for tomato pollination leading to establishment of non-native bumblebees in a number of countries. Since the publication of the first edition of the book, there have been hundreds of research papers published on bumblebees. There is clearly a continuing need for an affordable, well-illustrated, and appealing text that makes accessible all of the major advances in understanding of the behaviour and ecology of bumblebees that have been made in the last 30 years."
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Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Bumblebees are familiar and charismatic insects, occurring throughout much of the world. They are increasingly being used as a model organism for studying a wide range of ecological and behavioural concepts, such as social organization, optimal foraging theories, host-parasite interactions, and pollination. Recently they have become a focus for conservationists due to mounting evidence of range contractions and catastrophic extinctions with some species disappearing from entire continents (e.g. in North America). Only by improving our understanding of their ecology can we devise sensible plans to conserve them. The role of bumblebees as invasive species (e.g. Bombus terrestris in Japan) has also become topical with the growing trade in commercial bumblebee nests for tomato pollination leading to establishment of non-native bumblebees in a number of countries.Since the publication of the first edition of the book, there have been hundreds of research papers published on bumblebees. There is clearly a continuing need for an affordable, well-illustrated, and appealing text that makes accessible all of the major advances in understanding of the behaviour and ecology of bumblebees that have been made in the last 30 years.

"Bumblebees are familiar and charismatic insects, occurring throughout much of the world. They are increasingly being used as a model organism for studying a wide range of ecological and behavioural concepts, such as social organization, optimal foraging theories, host-parasite interactions, and pollination. Recently they have become a focus for conservationists due to mounting evidence of range contractions and catastrophic extinctions with some species disappearing from entire continents (e.g. in North America). Only by improving our understanding of their ecology can we devise sensible plans to conserve them. The role of bumblebees as invasive species (e.g. Bombus terrestris in Japan) has also become topical with the growing trade in commercial bumblebee nests for tomato pollination leading to establishment of non-native bumblebees in a number of countries. Since the publication of the first edition of the book, there have been hundreds of research papers published on bumblebees. There is clearly a continuing need for an affordable, well-illustrated, and appealing text that makes accessible all of the major advances in understanding of the behaviour and ecology of bumblebees that have been made in the last 30 years."

Professional & Vocational

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

  • Preface (p. ix)
  • Acknowledgement (p. xi)
  • Chapter 1 Introduction (p. 1)
  • 1.1 Evolution and phylogeny (p. 2)
  • 1.2 The life cycle (p. 5)
  • Chapter 2 Thermoregulation (p. 13)
  • 2.1 Warming up (p. 13)
  • 2.2 Controlling heat loss (p. 16)
  • 2.3 Thermoregulation of the nest (p. 18)
  • Chapter 3 Social Organization and Conflict (p. 21)
  • 3.1 Caste determination (p. 22)
  • 3.2 Division of labour (p. 25)
  • 3.3 Sex determination (p. 34)
  • 3.4 Control of reproduction and queen-worker conflicts (p. 34)
  • 3.4.1 Timing of reproduction (p. 37)
  • 3.4.2 Matricide (p. 39)
  • 3.5 Sex ratios in 'true' bumblebees (p. 40)
  • 3.6 Sex ratios in Psithyrus (p. 43)
  • Chapter 4 Finding a Mate (p. 45)
  • 4.1 Territoriality (p. 45)
  • 4.2 Nest surveillance (p. 46)
  • 4.3 Hilltopping (p. 46)
  • 4.4 Scent-marking and patrolling (p. 47)
  • 4.5 Inbreeding avoidance (p. 50)
  • 4.6 Evolution of male mate-location behaviour (p. 51)
  • 4.7 Queen-produced sex attractants (p. 51)
  • 4.8 Monogamy versus polyandry (p. 52)
  • Chapter 5 Natural Enemies (p. 57)
  • 5.1 True predators (p. 57)
  • 5.2 Parasitoids (p. 62)
  • 5.2.1 Conopidae (Diptera) (p. 62)
  • 5.2.2 Sarcophagidae (Diptera) (p. 64)
  • 5.2.3 Braconidae (Hymenoptera) (p. 65)
  • 5.2.4 Mutilidae (Hymenoptera) (p. 65)
  • 5.3 Parasites and commensals (p. 66)
  • 5.3.1 Viruses (p. 66)
  • 5.3.2 Prokaryotes (Bacteria and others) (p. 66)
  • 5.3.3 Fungi (p. 67)
  • 5.3.4 Protozoa (p. 67)
  • 5.3.5 Nematodes (p. 70)
  • 5.3.6 Mites (Acarina) (p. 71)
  • 5.3.7 Other commensals (p. 73)
  • 5.4 The immune system of bumblebees (p. 73)
  • 5.5 Social parasitism (p. 75)
  • 5.5.1 Nest usurpation (p. 75)
  • 5.5.2 Social parasitism by drifting workers (p. 76)
  • 5.5.3 Cuckoo bees (Psithyrus) (p. 77)
  • Chapter 6 Foraging Economics (p. 81)
  • 6.1 Foraging range (p. 84)
  • 6.1.1 Measuring foraging range (p. 86)
  • 6.1.1.1 Marking experiments and direct observation (p. 86)
  • 6.1.1.2 Modelling foraging range (p. 87)
  • 6.1.1.3 Homing experiments (p. 88)
  • 6.1.1.4 Radar tracking (p. 91)
  • 6.1.1.5 Mass-marking and pollen analysis (p. 92)
  • 6.1.2 Do bumblebees forage close to their nests? (p. 94)
  • 6.1.3 Differences between bumblebee species (p. 95)
  • 6.1.4 Management implications (p. 97)
  • Chapter 7 Exploitation of Patchy Resources (p. 101)
  • 7.1 The ideal free distribution (p. 102)
  • 7.1.1 Search patterns within patches (p. 102)
  • 7.1.2 Non-random choice of patches (p. 106)
  • 7.2 The marginal value theorem (p. 107)
  • Chapter 8 Choice of Flower Species (p. 113)
  • 8.1 Learning and flower constancy (p. 114)
  • 8.1.1 Explanations for flower constancy (p. 115)
  • 8.1.2 Can flowers be cryptic? (p. 120)
  • 8.2 Infidelity in flower choice (p. 123)
  • 8.3 Variation in learning ability (p. 124)
  • 8.4 Coping with deceptive unrewarding flowers (p. 125)
  • 8.5 The influence of pollen quality on flower choice (p. 126)
  • Chapter 9 Intraspecific Floral Choices (p. 131)
  • 9.1 Direct detection of rewards (p. 131)
  • 9.2 Flower size (p. 132)
  • 9.3 Flower age (p. 132)
  • 9.4 Flower sex (p. 133)
  • 9.5 Flower symmetry (p. 134)
  • 9.6 Flower scent (p. 135)
  • 9.7 Thermal rewards (p. 135)
  • 9.8 Motivation and choosiness (p. 136)
  • Chapter 10 Foraging Cues Gained from Other Bees (p. 137)
  • 10.1 Communication in the nest (p. 137)
  • 10.2 Visual responses to other bees on flowers (p. 140)
  • 10.3 Scent marking of flowers (p. 140)
  • 10.3.1 Repellent versus attractant marks (p. 146)
  • 10.3.2 The evolution of scent marking (p. 147)
  • Chapter 11 Competition and Niche differentiation in Bumblebee communities (p. 151)
  • Chapter 12 Bumblebbes as pollinators (p. 161)
  • 12.1 Pollination of cops (p. 162)
  • 12.1.1 Honeybees versus bumblebees (p. 163)
  • 12.1.2 Approaches to enhancing bumblebee pollination (p. 165)
  • 12.2 Pollination of wild flowers (p. 171)
  • 12.2.1 Nectar robbing (p. 172)
  • Chapter 13 Conservation (p. 177)
  • 13.1 Causes of declining bumblebee numbers (p. 181)
  • 13.1.1 Loss of habitat (p. 181)
  • 13.1.2 Pesticides (p. 186)
  • 13.1.3 Impacts of non-native bees and commercial beekeeping (p. 188)
  • 13.1.4 Population structure and habitat fragmentation (p. 191)
  • 13.1.5 Do bumblebees Suffer from inbreeding depression? (p. 198)
  • 13.2 Why are some bumblebee species still abundant? (p. 199)
  • 13.3 Consequences of declining bumblebee numbers (p. 204)
  • 13.4 Conservation strategies (p. 206)
  • 13.4.1 Enhancing bumblebee diversity in farmland (p. 206)
  • 13.4.1.1 Field margin management and wildflower strips (p. 206)
  • 13.4.1.2 Restoring and maintaining species-rich grasslands (p. 210)
  • 13.4.1.3 Providing nest sites (p. 211)
  • 13.4.1.4 Organic farming (p. 212)
  • 13.4.2 The importance of urban areas (p. 213)
  • 13.4.3 Translocations and reintroductions (p. 215)
  • 13.5 Summary (p. 216)
  • Chapter 14 Bumblebees Abroad: Effects of Introduced Bees (p. 219)
  • 14.1 Competition with native organisms for floral resources (p. 221)
  • 14.1.1 Effects on foraging of native organisms (p. 222)
  • 14.1.2 Evidence for population-level changes in native organisms (p. 225)
  • 14.2 Competition for nest sites (p. 227)
  • 14.3 Introgression with native bees (p. 228)
  • 14.4 Transmission of parasites or pathogens to native organisms (p. 228)
  • 14.5 Effects on pollination of native flora (p. 231)
  • 14.6 Pollination of exotic weeds (p. 233)
  • 14.7 Summary and conclusions (p. 235)
  • References (p. 239)
  • Index (p. 311)

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