Wild bumble bee foraging preferences and fat content in highbush blueberry agro-ecosystems

Summary

AbstractAgricultural intensification can impact the availability and quality of resources. We analyzed resource use by bumble bees (Bombus spp.), important pollinators of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), collected from conventional highbush blueberry farms, organic highbush blueberry farms, and nearby natural areas in the lower Fraser River valley of British Columbia, Canada. We identified corbicular pollen and measured bee fat content as an indicator of body condition. Bumble bees use non-crop resources, including pollen from plant species not found on farms. Bees from natural areas had higher pollen protein content in corbicular pollen and higher body fat content than those from conventional and organic farms. There was no difference between farm types, and we could not demonstrate a relationship between pollen protein and bee fat content. Our findings illustrate the importance of resource availability throughout agro-ecological landscapes, including not only farms but also off-farm areas.