Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.11.13.381012v1?rss=1 Authors: Dubois, T., Pasquaretta, C., Barron, A., Gautrais, J., Lihoreau, M. Abstract: Central place foraging pollinators tend to develop multi-destination routes (traplines) to exploit several patchily distributed plant resources. While the formation of traplines by individual pollinators has been studied in details, how populations of individuals exploit resources in a common area is an open ques-tion difficult to address experimentally. Here we explored conditions for the emergence of resource partitioning among traplining bees using agent-based models built from experimental data of bumble-bees foraging on artificial flowers. In the models, bees learn to develop routes as a consequence of feedback loops that change their probabilities of moving between flowers. While a positive reinforce-ment of route segments leading to rewarding flowers is sufficient for the emergence of resource parti-tioning when flowers are evenly distributed, a negative reinforcement of route segments leading to un-rewarding flowers is necessary when flowers are patchily distributed. In these more complex environ-ments, the negative experiences of individual bees favour the spatial segregation of foragers and high levels of collective foraging efficiency. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info