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From metropolis to wilderness: Uncovering pollen collecting behavior in urban and wild sweat bees (Halictus ligatus)

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Abstract

Urban areas boast high bee species richness and abundance, but little is known of their overall behavior or potential plasticity. The physical movements of bees on flowers are an extremely important aspect of their behavioral repertoire, as foraging for pollen has implications for bee population health and plant reproductive success. In this study we used classic ethological techniques to document and quantify pollen collecting behavior common sweat bee species, Halictus ligatus, residing in both urban and exurban habitats, and assess the role of environmental factors on behavioral differences. Overall, time budgets of bee foraging behavior between urban and exurban H. ligatus were similar, with scra** as the primary method used for pollen extraction. However, we observed a novel foraging behavior for Halictus bees – tap**, which varied significantly between urban and exurban bee foragers. Additionally, environmental characteristics including temperature, floral richness and floral identity were the strongest predictors of pollen collecting behavior. Lastly, we found significant differences in the sequences of behaviors performed by urban and exurban H. ligatus. This study is the first to utilize ethological methods to describe and document pollen gathering in an urban sweat bee species, and explore the potential mechanisms driving behavioral differences. The physical actions involved in pollen removal are crucial for plant pollination, particularly in urban regions with high habitat heterogeneity and resource patchiness. As urbanization continues to expand, more targeted behavioral studies applied to urban animal populations will aid in our understanding of animal behavior, plasticity, and the potential implications for ecosystem services.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the Webster Groves Nature Study Society and Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center for support and supplies. Additionally, we would like to acknowledge Stephanie McDonald, Grey Andre, and Owen Ireton for assistance with filming and behavioral analysis. We would also like to acknowledge Moses Alshimary and Katelyn Hanners for assistance with floral identification

Funding

Author R.B. received research support from The Webster Groves Nature Study Society and the Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center.

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  1. Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd., Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA

    Rachel A. Brant

  2. Department of Biology, University of Missouri-Saint Louis, 224 Research Bldg., Saint Louis, MO, 63131, USA

    Aimee S. Dunlap

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Material preparation, data collection, and analysis, and initial draft writing was conducted by Rachel A. Brant. Experimental oversight was conducted by Aimee Dunlap. All authors contributed to revisions of the manuscript, and all authors approved the final manuscript.

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Brant, R.A., Dunlap, A.S. From metropolis to wilderness: Uncovering pollen collecting behavior in urban and wild sweat bees (Halictus ligatus). Urban Ecosyst 27, 563–575 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-023-01466-1

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