Summary
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1.
Interactions among bumble bee workers (Bombus terricola Kirby andB. vagans Smith) occurred on roses (Rosa carolina), a rich source of pollen.
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2.
Bombus terricola workers were larger, on the average, thanB. vagans workers. The two species displaced each other with similar frequency, but where individuals of similar size were involved,B. vagans usually prevailed overB. terricola.
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3.
Interspecific encounters did not differ from intraspecific encounters in any other detectable way.
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4.
Workers of both species never foraged together in the same flower.
Zusammenfassung
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1.
Auf Blüten der RoseRosa carolina (eine ergiebige Pollenquelle) wurden Interaktionen zwischen Arbeiterinnen der HummelartenBombus terricola Kirby undB. vagans Smith beobachtet.
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2.
Treffen Arbeiterinnen gleicher Größe zusammen, so siegt in der RegelB. vagans überB. terricola. Trotzdem verdrängen sich die beiden Arten mit nahezu gleicher Häufigkeit, da die Arbeiterinnen vonB. terricola im Durchschnitt größer sind als die vonB. vagans.
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3.
Interspezifische Auseinandersetzungen waren von intraspezifischen nicht zu unterscheiden.
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4.
Bei beiden Arten sammeln niemals mehrere Arbeiterinnen zugleich an derselben Blüte.
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Morse, D.H. Interactions among bumble bees on roses. Ins. Soc 25, 365–371 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02224300
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02224300