Scaling of nectar foraging in orchid bees
Scaling of nectar foraging in orchid bees
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DOI：
10.1086/512689
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发表时间：
2007-01-01
影响因子：
2.9
通讯作者：
Borrell, Brendan J.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Borrell, Brendan J.
形态影响着觅食蜜蜂访问花蜜花的速度，它们必须消耗的花蜜量来为它们的活动提供能量，因此，也影响着花朵物种的盈利能力。由于取食时间是来访率的主要决定因素，我使用生物力学模型来研究兰花蜂（蜂科：Euglossini）的能量摄取率(E)如何随蔗糖浓度、体重(M)和喙长而变化。在几何尺度下，最佳糖浓度（S-max）与体型基本无关，E与M-1.0成正比。在50 ~ 800 mg范围内的30种兰花蜂的比较研究中，S-max下降了35% ~ 40% w/w，但E与M-0.54成正比，显著低于模型预测。喙的长度和半径与身体质量成几何比例，但喙的长度表现出与尺寸无关的变化，特别是在小型蜜蜂中。根据比例模型，长鼻的一个代价是E和S-max的减少。这一发现突出了大黄蜂使用的拍打机制和兰花蜜蜂使用的吸力机制之间的区别。一项实地研究证实，兰花蜂收获的花蜜的蔗糖含量在34%至42%之间，与体型无关。
Morphology influences the rate at which foraging bees visit nectar flowers, the quantity of nectar they must consume to fuel their activities, and, consequently, the profitability of flower species. Because feeding time is a major determinant of visitation rate, I used a biomechanical model to examine how energy intake rate (E) varies with sucrose concentration, body mass (M), and proboscis length in orchid bees ( Apidae: Euglossini). Under geometric scaling, the optimal sugar concentration (S-max) should be largely independent of body size, and E proportional to M-1.0. In a comparative study of 30 orchid bee species ranging from 50 to 800 mg, S-max fell between 35% and 40% w/w, but E proportional to M-0.54, significantly less than model predictions. Proboscis length and radius scale geometrically with body mass, but proboscis length exhibits substantial size-independent variation, particularly in small bees. One cost of a long proboscis is a reduction in both E and S-max in accordance with the scaling model. This finding highlights a difference between the lapping mechanism used by bumblebees and the suction mechanism used by orchid bees. A field study confirms that orchid bees harvest nectars with between 34% and 42% sucrose, independent of body size.