[Pollinator] Competition by honey bees not significant

[Rogel Villanueva Gutierrez]

Dear Peter:

Unfortunately there are several factors that contribute to the competition
between honey bees and wild bees: David Roubik and me have recorded in the
Yucatán peninsula that nesting of Centris and Megachile diminishes abruptly
when there is to much precipitation due to hurricanes or when there is a
long drought period.  Also deforestation of the natural vegetation increases
this competition (less habitat and food sources, more competition). 

All the best,

Rogel

-----Mensaje original-----
De: pollinator-bounces+rvillanu=ecosur.mx at lists.sonic.net
[mailto:pollinator-bounces+rvillanu=ecosur.mx at lists.sonic.net] En nombre de
Peter Loring Borst
Enviado el: viernes, 23 de marzo de 2012 4:51
Para: pollinator at lists.sonic.net; napPC at pollinator.org
Asunto: [Pollinator] Competition by honey bees not significant

Although competition between honey bees and wild bees is often expected, we
did not find any evidence for significant effects at the densities of bees
and flowers we studied. Further, no other study has unambiguously shown
negative effects of honey bees on the reproductive success of wild bees,
although resource overlap and competitive exclusion from the most profitable
flower patches have been demonstrated.

Interspecific competition by
honey bees for food resources was not shown to be a significant factor
determining abundance and species richness of wild bees.


Resource overlap and possible competition between honey bees and wild bees
in central Europe Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter · Teja Tscharntke Oecologia (2000)
122:288–296 © Springer-Verlag 2000

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