Radio transmitters used to track tropical bees on their travels
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 4:33 PM on 27th May 2010
Tiny transmitters glued to the backs of tropical bees have allowed scientists to track the exotic insects as they fly for miles in search of rare flowers.
微小的發射機被粘在熱帶蜜蜂的背上，已使科學家能夠追踪異國情調的昆蟲，因為牠們飛行數哩尋找稀有花卉。
Some of the iridescent blue-green orchid bees were found to buzz tirelessly for surprisingly long distances.
一些耀眼藍綠色的蘭花蜜蜂，被發現不倦地嗡嗡聲達令人驚奇的長距離。
One even crossed the shipping lanes of the Panama Canal, a journey of at least five kilometres.
一隻甚至跨越巴拿馬運河的航道，旅程至少5公里。
Scientists glued tiny transmitters glued to the backs of tropical bees in order to track them as they fly for miles in search of rare flowers科學家膠合微小的發射機粘在熱帶蜜蜂的背上，以便跟踪牠們因為牠們飛行數哩搜索稀有花卉
The study has given researchers new insights into the role of bees in tropical forest ecosystems.
這項研究已給予研究人員新的見解，對蜜蜂在熱帶森林生態系統的作用。
Working in Panama, scientists trapped 17 orchid bees of the common species Exaerete frontalis and attached a 300 milligram radio beacon onto the back of each.
在巴拿馬中的工作，科學家捉了17隻常見品種的蘭花蜜蜂 Exaerete frontalis，和附加一300毫克的無線電導航在每一隻的背面。
The signals they transmitted were used to track their movements in and around the dense forest where they lived.
它們傳送的信號被用來跟踪牠們的行動，在和圍繞牠們在那裡居住的茂密森林。
Professor Martin Wikelski, from Princeton University, US, and the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Germany, said: 'By following the radio signals, we discovered that male orchid bees spent most of their time in small core areas, but could take off and visit areas farther away.
'One male even crossed over the shipping lanes in the Panama Canal, flying at least five kilometres, and returned a few days later.'
Previously researchers have struggled to trace the movements of bees, following individuals marked with paint or using radar which does not work well in forests.
'Carrying the transmitter could reduce the distance that the bees travel, but even if the flight distances we record are the minimum distances that these orchid bees can fly, they are impressive, long-distance movements,' said Dr Roland Kays, from New York State Museum, a co-author of the research published today in the online journal Public Library of Science (PLoS) One.
'This data helps to explain how orchids these bees pollinate can be so rare.'
Pollination by bees and other insects is critical to the diversity and continued growth of flowers and trees in tropical forests.
The new study is the first to use radio transmitters to track bees in a forest habitat.
Similar research may now be undertaken in temperate forests, where bees also play a vital role.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1281631/Radio-transmitters-used-track-tropical-bees-travels.html
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