Answering key bumble bee conservation questions by studying discovered wild nests: A Bombus affinis case study
Data files
Dec 23, 2024 version files 6.80 KB
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README.md
1.70 KB
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rpbb-nest-figure3-data-and-script.zip
5.10 KB
Abstract
The nesting ecology of wild bumble bees is not well resolved, but information learned from discovered nests can be of great conservation value. Data collected at nests on foraging patterns, caste-specific behavior, and health (e.g., pathogens) is invaluable for understanding bumble bee behavior and ecology, but difficult to decipher solely from foraging observations away from the nest. Wild nests are often found opportunistically, and due to a lack of standardized guidance on data collection, the information collected alongside nest discoveries is often idiosyncratic. Here we provide a framework for data collection when nests are discovered to ensure the data are as complete as possible and comparable across studies. To meet these goals, we provide an action plan which includes key conservation questions and methodological guidelines both for in-situ data collection and post season nest excavation. This plan is ordered by increasing complexity of data collection methods and includes suggestions on how to report findings. To illustrate our framework, we provide an example with recently discovered Bombus affinis (rusty patched bumble bee) nests. Through observations at B. affinis nests, we discovered novel patterns of activity, including changing activity levels over time, the timing of male and gyne production, variable timing in nest senescence, and associations of nests with past rodent activity. Post-senescence nest excavation allows the estimation of colony size and caste numbers, pest incidence, and provides an opportunity to examine nest material for stressors (e.g., pesticides). Although individual nest discoveries may be of limited value in forwarding conservation strategies, and it may not be feasible for all teams to collect all data types at all discovered nests, the aggregate collections of many similar datasets can be of critical importance for species of conservation concern.
README: Answering key bumble bee conservation questions by studying discovered wild nests: A Bombus affinis case study
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.gqnk98sxt
Description of the data and file structure
Data was collected conducting several 10-minute observations of wild Bombus affinis nests as detailed in the main text. Data represents observations of castes of bumble bees entering or exiting the observed nests and details the number of individuals observed.
Files and variables
Inside the .zip file are 3 primary files.
GP_Data.csv - this represents data collected by Genevieve Pugesek while observing a nest in the Madison, Wisconsin area. It contains columns for date, the direction of movement of observed individuals ("activity"; either in or out of the colony), the caste of the observed individuals, a column for summarizing the concatenation of activity + caste, and a count of the activity observed.
LaX_Data.csv - similar to GPData, this represents observed counts of individuals from a nest in LaCrosse. Besides for not having the "group" column, all of its columns are the same as GP_Data.csv.
*01a-rpbb-nest-example-figure-3.R *- this is the script used to wrangle (primarily summarize) and visualize the data to create Figure 3 as in the main document.
Code/software
platform aarch64-apple-darwin20
arch aarch64
os darwin20
system aarch64, darwin20
status
major 4
minor 4.1
year 2024
month 06
day 14
svn rev 86737
language R
version.string R version 4.4.1 (2024-06-14)
nickname Race for Your Life
Methods
Data was collected by conducting observations of B. affinis nests as described in the main text. Processing of raw data conducted as shown in the attached R script.