1108.1278 (Friedrich Lenz et al.)

Spatio-temporal dynamics of bumblebees foraging under predation risk    [PDF]

Friedrich Lenz, Thomas C. Ings, Lars Chittka, Aleksei V. Chechkin, Rainer Klages

We analyze 3D flight paths of bumblebees searching for nectar in a laboratory
experiment with and without predation risk from artificial spiders. For the
flight velocities we find mixed probability distributions reflecting the access
to the food sources while the threat posed by the spiders shows up only in the
velocity correlations. The bumblebees thus adjust their flight patterns
spatially to the environment and temporally to predation risk. Key information
on response to environmental changes is contained in temporal correlation
functions, as we explain by a simple emergent model.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1108.1278