In answer to Dr Kevan's question about foraging distance... the best discussion
I have seen on the subject is in Dave Roubik's recent book, Ecology and Natural
In this book (pages 82 to about 122) Roubik points out that bees are central-
place foragers with forager density nicely plotted against increasing distance
from the nest.  There are many factors, including short-term ones and those over
the long term.  If you wonder about foraging close to the nest, just set out a
piece of comb and see how long it takes to become emptied!  The problem is
not a simple one because the further away from the nest you get, the more area
there is available for foraging.  So there must be a relationship between the
forager density (high near nest) and foraging area (increasing away from nest)
which shows the probability of foraging (area * density).  This results in
higher probability at some distance from the nest (not too close and not too
distant).  Its a nice problem to think about and a tougher one to resolve in
the field.  Check out the book (Cambridge, 1989).
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º  Edward E. Southwick             Department of Biology         º
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