Open AccessForaging trip duration of honeybee increases during a poor air quality episode and the increase persists thereafter
Author(s) -
Cho Yoori,
Jeong Sujong,
Lee Dowon,
Kim SangWoo,
Park Rokjin J.,
Gibson Luke,
Zheng Chunmiao,
Park ChanRyul
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.17
H-Index - 63
ISSN - 2045-7758
DOI - 10.1002/ece3.7145
Subject(s) - foraging , environmental science , duration (music) , air quality index , ecology , biology , literature , art
Abstract Increased concentration of airborne particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere alters the degree of polarization of skylight which is used by honeybees for navigation during their foraging trips. However, little has empirically shown whether poor air quality indeed affects foraging performance (foraging trip duration) of honeybee. Here, we show apparent increases in the average duration of honeybee foraging during and after a heavy air pollution event compared with that of the pre‐event period. The average foraging duration of honeybees during the event increased by 32 min compared with the pre‐event conditions, indicating that 71% more time was spent on foraging. Moreover, the average foraging duration measured after the event did not recover to its pre‐event level. We further investigated whether an optical property (Depolarization Ratio, DR) of dominant PM in the atmosphere and level of air pollution (fine PM mass concentration) affect foraging trip duration. The result demonstrates the DR and fine PM mass concentration have significant effects on honeybee foraging trip duration. Foraging trip duration increases with decreasing DR while it increases with increasing fine PM mass concentration. In addition, the effects of fine PM mass concentration are synergistic with overcast skies. Our study implies that poor air quality could pose a new threat to bee foraging.