Summary
Temperature regulation inBombus terricola was investigated in the field in relation to foraging energetics on flowers differing widely in morphology and nectar contents.
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1.
While foraging for nectar fromAsclepias syriaca mean thoracic temperature (TTh) was relatively independent from ambient thermal conditions, ranging from 35.2 °C in shade at 12 °C, to 37.5 °C in sunshine at 28 °C (Fig. 1).
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2.
While foraging for pollen fromSolanum dulcamara TTh was also regulated near 36 °C (Fig. 2).
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3.
In contrast, mean TTh ofB. terricola foraging fromSpiraea latifolia andSolidago canadensis varied nearly directly with ambient thermal conditions (Figs. 4 and 5).
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4.
Abdominal temperature varied nearly directly with TA regardless of whether or not TTh was stabilized (Figs. 1 and 4).
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5.
At TA<21 °C in shade many of the nectar foragers onSolidago canadensis andSpiraea latifolia, having a TTh < 29 °C, were incapable of immediate flight. However, the TTh of pollen gatherers at the same TA (Table 1) was higher (p < 0.01), and these bees were always capable of immediate flight.
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6.
The energetic costs for temperature regulation during foraging at different TA, and the energetic gains that might be derived are discussed (see Figs. 7 and 8) in relation to the geometry of nectar distribution in space, and in relation to nectar abundance.
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I thank Mr. and Mrs. Gerd H. Heinrich, Dryden, Maine, who made field studies at the farm truly pleasurable, and the neighbors, who were goodnaturedly tolerant. I profited from comments and criticisms generated during seminars of various aspects of this work delivered at: The Department of Entomology and Parasitology, Berkeley; the Department of Zoology, Berkeley; Dr. G. A. Bartholomew's Ecological Physiology seminar at UCLA; Dr. P. H. Raven's Population Biology seminar at Stanford University.
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Heinrich, B. Energetics of temperature regulation and foraging in a bumblebee,Bombus terricola kirby. J. Comp. Physiol. 77, 49–64 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696519
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696519