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As an integral part of the Gadara-Region-Project, a survey of the Wādī al-‘Arab region was conducted during the years 2009-2012, by the Biblical-Archaeological Institute Wuppertal and the German Protestant Institute for Archaeology in order to achieve a better understanding of the hinterland of the main study site Tall Zirāʿa and to provide answers concerning settlement pattern, trade relationships and the importance of sites throughout time.

The oraging efficiency of naive Bombus terrestris bumblebees declines during the night due to the weakening of memory. A comparative study shows that nectar intake rates increase due to bee's gaining experience during day, while probing time and inter-visit intervals increase during night. Nectar intake rates differ among individual bees. A preference for profitable cluster of flowers is present initially, but later becomes insignificant. The partial forgetting is suggested to help the bees in quick overnight reaction to changes in source.

The relationship between floral colors and hymenopteran insect activity was studied using correlative statistical analyses. The measurements were performed on 198 species of Israeli springtime blooming flowers. Spectral reflectance, which was divided into six categories of colors, was determined based on the natural color vision system of bees and wasps. Evaluation of the data indicated that fast-learning hymenopteran insects exhibiting clear ultraviolet, blue and green color vision system predominated the pollination in the area.

As an integral part of the Gadara-Region-Project, a survey of the Wādī al-'Arab region was conducted during the years 2009-2012, by the Biblical-Archaeological Institute Wuppertal and the German Protestant Institute for Archaeology in order to achieve a better understanding of the hinterland of the main study site Tall Zirā'a and to provide answers concerning settlement pattern, trade relationships and the importance of sites throughout time. On the basis of this survey we used ecological approaches to see what correlation might exist between archaeological sites and habitat. Since more than half the sites in this survey had Roman occupation, we asked what difference, if any, was there in the distribution of Roman sites compared to previous occupations. A comparison was made of "new" Roman sites (those not previously occupied in the Hellenistic period) with those that had both Roman and Hellenistic occupation. Open water, riverine habitats, and large archaeological sites all seemed connected. In addition, analysis indicated a correlation of older (more successful or established?) sites with open water and new Roman sites were less related to water. We knew that Roman engineering both of cistern systems and aqueducts opened new areas (such as plateaus) for settlement and exploitation. Hence the weaker correlation of new Roman sites with natural water was reasonable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]