The Effects of Landscape and Experience on the Navigation and Foraging Behaviour of Bumblebees, Bombus terrestris

Cross-pollination of crop and wild flowers requires that pollinators, such as bees, move over larger and smaller distances to
effectively distribute pollen. On the bees' side, the primary need is not only to forage effectively, but also to safely navigate
in changing environments. Navigation in bees is influenced by landmarks, and in heterogeneous fragmented landscapes
with major landmark structures, those can significantly determine where and how bees forage, subsequently affecting
pollination services. In this project we will investigate how bees adjust their behaviour to such conditions. The work
involves field observations of foraging bees in South Devon and implementation of the data into predictive models of
distribution of pollination services. The South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) offers convenient field
sites. Many small and diverse agricultural holdings are separated by wide large-sized high-hedges grown on earth banks,
the traditional Devon hedges. It is also a hotspot of biodiverse habitats many of which have been recently mapped out in
the B(iodiversity)-Lines project which will connect them with corridors to conserve biodiversity and oppose the decline in
bees, the major group of pollinators. The B-Lines project is led by the CASE partner of this project, the South West AONB
unit. The data collected in this project, scientific conclusions and outcomes of model testing will feed directly into the
management of the AONB landscape to enable the assessment of the effectiveness of B-Lines and landscape
management practices on the pollination services provided by bees. This PhD project offers both multidisciplinary
academic training in the behavioural and ecological sciences and training in landscape management and the development
and implementation of environmental policies.