INTRO: A clear link between the rise in habitat fragmentation and bumblebee colony fitness has been established, with the wider implications discussed. Unsurprisingly increased vegetation cover interacts positively with colony fitness and the respective foraging behaviours. However, the interactive effects of habitat amount and fragmentation discussed reveal more complex management opportunities. When prospective habitat levels are low, then increased fragmentation impacts colony fitness negatively. Conversely, in areas of high habitat levels fragmentation of the landscape can be beneficial to colony fitness. Pollinator conservation interventions should be tailored to fit the landscape; with both vegetation cover and fragmentation of said vegetation factored into management styles.
MERITS:
The relevance of the project is alluded to as the location of study is in a heavily managed agricultural hub where pollinator networks will play a crucial role in the industry. With further intensification comes other consequences, such as soil degradation, so tackling habitat loss is an effective way to mitigate the loss of pollinator species such as Bombus Terrestris. Therefore, the rationale of the project is well rounded and enforced with comments around future management techniques.
The definitions of the variables tested are clear and allow the reader to grasp the authors objectives as one reads on. The writing style offers an engaging insight into the project from rationale through to its culmination. The use of high-end technology, in the form of RFID, offers a unique and intriguing perspective into the foraging behaviour in a bee colony. The interaction effects discussed are outlined effectively with practical ramifications discussed alongside the dissemination of the results.
CRITIQUE: Interesting investigative study of associations factors affecting conservation interventions.
DISCUSSION: Development of the research question could yield stronger associative strength between the factors affecting colony fitness. Although fragmentation has a clear effect, consideration for other external factors could be included in future analysis. With a focus on the types of landscape management techniques, involving flower availability/habitat quality, that could coincide with those discussed in the manuscript.
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INTRO: This manuscript explores the effects of habitat amount and fragmentation on the colony fitness and foraging behaviour of Bombus terrestris colonies in intensive vineyard landscapes. The authors have found that habitat amount and fragmentation have an interactive effect on colony fitness, with a negative effect of fragmentation in simple landscapes, and a positive one in landscape with high habitat amount.
MERITS: - This study explores a really important question and seems to nicely tackle it: the independent effects of habitat amount and fragmentation.
- The outcomes of the study are really interesting: the effect of those two landscape variables are interdependent. Indeed, in simple landscapes, habitat fragmentation had a negative effect, indicating an isolation effect and/or that mean habitat size was too low to sustain the colonies. In complex landscapes, habitat fragmentation had a positive effect on colony size, suggesting a beneficial effect of habitat interspersion.
CRITIQUE: - The author should add a line indicating the benefit of vegetated vineyards for bumblebees since we do not know if those types of vineyards are actually used by bumblebees as habitats (flowering resources, nesting sites).
DISCUSSION: - The authors should add a line on the benefit of those vegetated vineyards for bumblebees and if the landscapes contained other types of vegetation cover that could be used as habitats too.
- The manuscript is nicely written and is of great contribution to the ongoing research on the effect land use change on biodiversity. It also contributes to the understanding of the effect habitat management on ecosystem services and provide clear recommendations.
