Landscape composition influences colony growth in the tropical Asian stingless bees (Tetragonula fuscobalteata)

Abstract

AbstractContext Pollination is an important ecosystem service for both crop and wild plants. In recent decades, many pollinators have been experiencing population declines due to land-use changes and intensified agriculture. However, effects of anthropogenic landscapes on bee pollinators in the tropics are still little investigated. Objectives We analyzed the effects of landscape composition on the colony weight as well as foraging activity and patterns of the tropical Asian stingless bee speciesTetragonala fuscobalteatawhich is a vital generalist pollinator in Southeast Asia. Methods Twenty-eight colonies were established and monitored over a year in 19 mixed fruit orchards located along a gradient of human land-use intensity. Results Our results revealed that the colonies gained weight and increased their foraging activity over time across diverse landscapes including forest, agricultural, and urbanized areas, indicating that this bee species can well adapt to anthropogenic landscapes. Interestingly,T. fuscobalteatacolonies also gained weight rapidly in orchards located in predominately agricultural landscapes with e.g. high proportions of rubber and oil palm plantations as well as in fruit orchards (such as rambutan, durian, coconut, banana). This positive effect was possibly due to mass flowering crops providing abundant resources, i.e., pollen and nectar, for a limited time. We also show thatT. fuscobalteataforagers could rely on urbanized land (probably ornamental plants and some crops in home gardens and backyards) and wild plants in surrounding forest patches during non-flowering periods of crops. Conclusions Our findings thus indicate that the combined floral resource availability provided by heterogeneous anthropogenic landscapes, including agricultural fields, urbanized areas and forests, can sustain generalist pollinators.