Extent of invasion of Tasmanian native vegetation by the exotic bumblebee Bombus terrestris (Apoidea: Apidae).

By Andrew B. Hingston, J. Marsden-Smedley, D. Driscoll, S. Corbett, J. Fenton, R. Anderson, C. Plowman, F. Mowling, M. Jenkin, K. Matsui and 22 more. 2002

121 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Observations of the large earth bumblebee, Bombus terrestris (L.), in native vegetation were collated to determine the extent to which this exotic species has invaded Tasmanian native vegetation during the first 9 years after its introduction. The range of B. terrestris now encompasses all of Tasmania's major vegetation types, altitudes from sea level to 1260m a.s.L, and the entire breadth of annual precipitation in the state from more than 3200 mm to less than 600 mm. Observations of workers carrying pollen, together with the presence of large numbers of bumblebees at many localities across this range indicate that colonies are frequently established in native vegetation. Evidence that colonies are often successful was obtained from repeated observations of the species during more than 1 year at particular sites. Unequivocal evidence of colonies was obtained from six National Parks, including four of the five in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (WHA). Indeed, the species has been present in the WHA for at least as long as it has in the city of Hobart, where it was first recorded. In southwestern Tasmania, evidence of colonies was obtained up to 40km from gardens, 61 km from small towns and 93 km from large towns. Hence, contrary to previous suggestions, the species is established in the most remote parts of Tasmania and is not dependent on introduced garden plants. Given their strong record of invasion, it is likely that B. terrestris will form feral populations on the mainland of Australia and in many other parts of the world if introduced. Because of their likely negative impacts on native animals and plants, and potential to enhance seed production in weeds, the spread of bumblebees should be avoided.

Subfields: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Genetics, Insect Science

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/b48685014dfa5173ea29eaacbaaebf3c9d050da3

How researchers see this paper

The researchers whose trusted networks rank it highest, strongest advocate first. Every researcher gets a different order.

In Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

1. Colin Fontaine
2. Élisa Thébault
3. K. Goka
4. C. Gross
5. Mickaël Henry
6. P. Kevan
7. A. Dafni
8. I. Dajoz

In Genetics

1. Colin Fontaine
2. K. Goka
3. I. Dajoz
4. Élisa Thébault
5. Orianne Rollin

In Insect Science

1. Colin Fontaine
2. K. Goka
3. Mickaël Henry
4. I. Dajoz
5. Orianne Rollin

Citations in the corpus

• Massively Introduced Managed Species and Their Consequences for Plant–Pollinator Interactions (2017, background): “…local insect fauna such as in Argentina (B. dahlbomii; Morales et al., 2013), Japan (B. ardens, B. hypocrita and B. diversus; Dohzono et al., 2008; Inari et al., 2005; Matsumura et al., 2004; Nishikawa and Shimamura, 2016) and Tasmania (Hingston and McQuillan, 1998, 1999; Hingston et al., 2002).”
• Bombus terrestris, pollinator, invasive and pest: An assessment of problems associated with its widespread introductions for commercial purposes (2010, background): “In its native range B. terrestris is univoltine (Al- ford, 1975; Prys-Jones and Corbet, 1991), but it may develop two reproductive cyles in a year (bivoltine) in a newly colonized area (Donovan and Weir, 1978 for New Zealand; Buttermore, 1997; Hingston et al., 2002 for Tasmania).”