Bee foraging data analysis

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Pennsylvania State University *

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220W

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Electrical Engineering

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Jan 9, 2024

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Bio 220W - BEE POLLINATOR FORAGING INTERPRETATION (15 pts) Name: Madison Shook Please open and refer to your prior assignment – BEE POLLINATOR FORAGING DATA ANALYSIS as needed. In the data analysis assignment, you answered questions about the data and your findings, like the results section of a scientific research paper. Now you will interpret what that data means biologically and compare your results and interpretation to what other scientists have found, like the discussion portion of a scientific research paper. Cite any sources used in APA format using in-text citations when answering questions below. List the full citations in a reference section at the end of the assignment, also in APA format. 1. Please read the following short article that highlights findings from a recent primary peer-reviewed research article: https://www.esa.org/blog/2023/07/buzzing-down-the- primrose-path-specialist-bee-species-prefer-abundant-host-plants/ After reading the article, do some research of your own to answer this question - Are bumblebees ( Bombus spp. ) and honeybees ( Apis mellifera ) considered bee specialists or bee generalists? Explain in 2-5 sentences. (1.5 pts) Honeybees (Apis mellifera) and bumblebees (Bombus spp.) are typically classified as generalists. This categorization is due to their broad foraging habits, where they gather nectar and pollen from a diverse array of plant species. This behavior contrasts with specialist bees, which have a more narrow, specific range of plants they visit. So, in terms of foraging behavior, both honeybees and bumblebees are considered generalists. 2. Was the average number of flower species visited higher for bumblebees or honeybees? What might be a reason for the difference? Explain in 2-5 sentences. (1.5 pts) If both bumblebees and honeybees have visited an average of 10 species each, it indicates there's no significant difference in their foraging behavior. This equal average might be indicative of their shared generalist foraging strategy, which allows them to adapt to a wide range of floral resources. This strategy could be a key factor in their survival and success, as it allows them to be flexible in response to variations in available floral resources. 3. Revisit the hypotheses you posed about flower preference for bumblebees and honeybees and whether you accepted your null or alternative hypotheses for bumblebees and honeybees based on the Chi-square test you performed. Write your two results sentences below with your Chi- square (Χ 2 ) and p-value information, like the examples provided (4 pts):

Null hypothesis accepted example: • Honeybees foraged on wingstem ( Verbesina alternifolia ) and crownbeard ( Verbesina occidentalis ) with equal frequency (Χ 2 1 = 1.45, p > 0.05). Note: the subscript 1 after the Chi-square symbol (X 2 ) is the degrees of freedom for the test. Alternative hypothesis accepted example: • Bumblebees foraged on wingstem ( Verbesina alternifolia ) more than crownbeard ( Verbesina occidentalis ) (Χ 2 1 = 4.25, p < 0.05). Bumblebees: Because 14.4 is > than 3.84 we are rejecting the null hypothesis, meaning they preferred one flower over the other. Honeybees: Because 7.062 is > than 3.84 we are accepting this null hypothesis, meaning they did not prefer one flower over the other. 4. Search the primary literature and explain why your null or alternative hypotheses were accepted or rejected for honeybees and bumblebees. Include information from at least 1 primary peer-reviewed research article, with properly paraphrased information that supports or does not support your argument and explain why or why not in 250-350 words. (6 pts) Example sentences to help get you started: • Beekeeper et al. (2020) found x, whereas my results indicate y. One explanation for this difference is z. • My result of x, was supported by a study where x was also found, indicating…. (Gnatcatcher & Rufus, 2019). Bees are critical pollinators for the environment. Their foraging behavior and pollination patterns have been studied extensively, and data analysis of their activities can yield valuable insight into their interactions with the environment. That is why Danner et al. (2017) supports my hypothesis of the honeybees because they tended to explore the different flower species, while bumblebees rejected the null hypothesis as they chose one flower of the other. In the article, a graph shows the representation of the bees foraging. The graph shows summer 3 where the bees do not stick to one specific flower, proving my bumblebee hypothesis to not be supported. The reasoning for why the bumblebees and honeybees is due to most bees tending

to stick to the most common flower species in the area. This is because there is less of a variety of flowers in the area for the bees, so they choose to stick with a specific one that they can pollinate. Although, honeybees did accept the null hypothesis, meaning they did not prefer one flower over the other. In the peer article I reviewed, Danner et al. (2017) stated that the way the bee is attracted to the specific flower may depend on the season we are in. 5. Include a complete list of cited references in APA format below. These will be checked for proper APA formatting. (2 pts) References: Danner, N., Keller, A., Härtel, S., & Steffan-Dewenter, I. (2017). Honey bee foraging ecology: Season but not landscape diversity shapes the amount and diversity of collected pollen. PloS one , 12 (8), e0183716. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0183716

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