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Somanathan H. Why diversity matters for understanding the visual ecology and behaviour of bees. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 64:101224. [PMID: 38925459 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2024.101224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Two bee species, the European honeybee and the buff-tailed bumblebee, are well-developed models of visual behaviour and ecology. How representative of bees across phylogeny and geography are these two species? Bee sensory systems likely differ between temperate and tropical species due to differences in the intensity or the types of selection pressures. Differences in temperate and tropical floral diversity, abundance and seasonality can influence sensory adaptations and behaviours. Niche partitioning in the speciose tropics along the microhabitat and temporal axes is increasingly reported to involve special visual adaptations in bees. Inclusive approaches encompassing other bee species and building on lessons from the 'model' bees will inform how ecology shapes bee senses, and, in turn, the structure of plant-bee mutualisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hema Somanathan
- School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
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2
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Sinha SK, Dolai A, Roy AB, Manna S, Das A. The Flower Colour Influences Spontaneous Nectaring in Butterflies: a Case Study with Twenty Subtropical Butterflies. NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 52:1027-1040. [PMID: 37819480 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-023-01086-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Butterflies have a wide spectrum of colour vision, and changes in flower colour influence both the visiting and nectaring (the act of feeding on flower nectar) events of them. However, the spontaneous behavioural response of butterflies while foraging on real flowers is less characterised in wild conditions. Hence, this study intends to investigate flower colour affinity in wild butterflies in relation to nectaring frequency (NF) and nectaring duration (ND). Six distinct flower colours were used to study spontaneous nectaring behaviour in 20 species of subtropical butterflies. Both NF and ND greatly varied in the flower colours they offered. Yellow flowers were frequently imbibed by butterflies for longer durations, followed by orange, while red, pink, white and violet flowers were occasionally nectared in shorter bouts. Though butterflies have a general tendency to nectar on multiple flower colours, the Nymphalids were more biased towards nectaring on yellow flowers, but Papilionids preferred both yellow and orange, while the Pierids were likely to display an equal affinity for yellow, orange and violet flowers as their first order of preference. Even if the blooms are associated with higher nectar concentrations or a significant grade reward, the butterfly may prefer to visit different-coloured flowers instead. Flower colour choice appears to be a generalist phenomenon for butterflies, but their specialist visiting nature was also significant. Nymphalid representatives responded to a wider variety of floral colour affinities than Pierid and Papilionid species. The colour preference of butterflies aids in the identification of flowers during foraging and influences subsequent foraging decisions, which ultimately benefits pollination success. The current information will support the preservation and conservation of butterflies in their natural habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumit Kumar Sinha
- Entomology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, Calcutta, West Bengal, India
| | - Avishek Dolai
- Entomology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, Calcutta, West Bengal, India
| | | | - Sourav Manna
- Semiochemical and lipid laboratory, Department of Life Science, Presidency University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Amlan Das
- Entomology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, Calcutta, West Bengal, India.
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3
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Chapman KM, Richardson FJ, Forster CY, Middleton EJT, White TE, Burke PF, Latty T. Artificial flowers as a tool for investigating multimodal flower choice in wild insects. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10687. [PMID: 38020672 PMCID: PMC10659823 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Flowers come in a variety of colours, shapes, sizes and odours. Flowers also differ in the quality and quantity of nutritional reward they provide to entice potential pollinators to visit. Given this diversity, generalist flower-visiting insects face the considerable challenge of deciding which flowers to feed on and which to ignore. Working with real flowers poses logistical challenges due to correlations between flower traits, maintenance costs and uncontrolled variables. Here, we overcome this challenge by designing multimodal artificial flowers that varied in visual, olfactory and reward attributes. We used artificial flowers to investigate the impact of seven floral attributes (three visual cues, two olfactory cues and two rewarding attributes) on flower visitation and species richness. We investigated how flower attributes influenced two phases of the decision-making process: the decision to land on a flower, and the decision to feed on a flower. Artificial flowers attracted 890 individual insects representing 15 morphospecies spanning seven arthropod orders. Honeybees were the most common visitors accounting for 46% of visitors. Higher visitation rates were driven by the presence of nectar, the presence of linalool, flower shape and flower colour and was negatively impacted by the presence of citral. Species richness was driven by the presence of nectar, the presence of linalool and flower colour. For hymenopterans, the probability of landing on the artificial flowers was influenced by the presence of nectar or pollen, shape and the presence of citral and/or linalool. The probability of feeding increased when flowers contained nectar. For dipterans, the probability of landing on artificial flowers increased when the flower was yellow and contained linalool. The probability of feeding increased when flowers contained pollen, nectar and linalool. Our results demonstrate the multi-attribute nature of flower preferences and highlight the usefulness of artificial flowers as tools for studying flower visitation in wild insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M. Chapman
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Freya J. Richardson
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Sydney Institute of AgricultureThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Caitlyn Y. Forster
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Eliza J. T. Middleton
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Thomas E. White
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Paul F. Burke
- UTS Business School and Centre for Business Intelligence and Data AnalyticsUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Tanya Latty
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Sydney Institute of AgricultureThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
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4
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Hempel de Ibarra N, Holtze S, Bäucker C, Sprau P, Vorobyev M. The role of colour patterns for the recognition of flowers by bees. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210284. [PMID: 36058248 PMCID: PMC9441241 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Bees discriminate between many different colours of flower petals, but it is not well understood how they perceive and learn patterns frequently found in flowers with colourful structures. We used multi-spectral imaging to explore chromatic cues in concentric flower patterns as they are seen through the low-resolution eyes of the honeybee. We find a diversity of colour combinations, which suggests that plants might exploit the sensory capabilities of pollinators, like bees, that learn colours easily. A consistent feature is that the surround of the pattern has a stronger chromatic contrast to the foliage background than the centre. This can potentially facilitate the fast identification of floral objects within colourful scenes when a foraging bee moves through a flower patch. In behavioural experiments we trained and tested bees with three types of concentric patterns. They recognized and discriminated patterns accurately in most tests, relying flexibly on both chromatic and spatial cues. Only rarely, depending on the training stimulus, chromatic cues determined their choices whilst pattern cues were ignored. The variability of floral designs and the bees' flexibility in recalling colour and spatial information suggest a role for colour vision in pattern processing. Implications for the signalling strategies of flowers are discussed. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Understanding colour vision: molecular, physiological, neuronal and behavioural studies in arthropods’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Hempel de Ibarra
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.,Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Holtze
- Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Cornelia Bäucker
- Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Philipp Sprau
- Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Misha Vorobyev
- Department of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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5
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Eckert J, Bohn M, Spaethe J. Does quantity matter to a stingless bee? Anim Cogn 2022; 25:617-629. [PMID: 34812987 PMCID: PMC9107420 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-021-01581-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Quantitative information is omnipresent in the world and a wide range of species has been shown to use quantities to optimize their decisions. While most studies have focused on vertebrates, a growing body of research demonstrates that also insects such as honeybees possess basic quantitative abilities that might aid them in finding profitable flower patches. However, it remains unclear if for insects, quantity is a salient feature relative to other stimulus dimensions, or if it is only used as a "last resort" strategy in case other stimulus dimensions are inconclusive. Here, we tested the stingless bee Trigona fuscipennis, a species representative of a vastly understudied group of tropical pollinators, in a quantity discrimination task. In four experiments, we trained wild, free-flying bees on stimuli that depicted either one or four elements. Subsequently, bees were confronted with a choice between stimuli that matched the training stimulus either in terms of quantity or another stimulus dimension. We found that bees were able to discriminate between the two quantities, but performance differed depending on which quantity was rewarded. Furthermore, quantity was more salient than was shape. However, quantity did not measurably influence the bees' decisions when contrasted with color or surface area. Our results demonstrate that just as honeybees, small-brained stingless bees also possess basic quantitative abilities. Moreover, invertebrate pollinators seem to utilize quantity not only as "last resort" but as a salient stimulus dimension. Our study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on quantitative cognition in invertebrate species and adds to our understanding of the evolution of numerical cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Eckert
- Department of Comparative Cultural Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
- Department of Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Biozentrum, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Manuel Bohn
- Department of Comparative Cultural Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Johannes Spaethe
- Department of Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Biozentrum, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
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6
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Koethe S, Reinartz L, Heard TA, Garcia JE, Dyer AG, Lunau K. Comparative psychophysics of Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) and stingless bee (Tetragonula carbonaria) colour purity and intensity perception. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2022; 208:641-652. [PMID: 36269403 PMCID: PMC9734212 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-022-01581-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Bees play a vital role as pollinators worldwide and have influenced how flower colour signals have evolved. The Western honey bee, Apis mellifera (Apini), and the Buff-tailed bumble bee, Bombus terrestris (Bombini) are well-studied model species with regard to their sensory physiology and pollination capacity, although currently far less is known about stingless bees (Meliponini) that are common in pantropical regions. We conducted comparative experiments with two highly eusocial bee species, the Western honey bee, A. mellifera, and the Australian stingless bee, Tetragonula carbonaria, to understand their colour preferences considering fine-scaled stimuli specifically designed for testing bee colour vision. We employed stimuli made of pigment powders to allow manipulation of single colour parameters including spectral purity (saturation) or colour intensity (brightness) of a blue colour (hue) for which both species have previously shown innate preferences. Both A. mellifera and T. carbonaria demonstrated a significant preference for spectrally purer colour stimuli, although this preference is more pronounced in honey bees than in stingless bees. When all other colour cues were tightly controlled, honey bees receiving absolute conditioning demonstrated a capacity to learn a high-intensity stimulus significant from chance expectation demonstrating some capacity of plasticity for this dimension of colour perception. However, honey bees failed to learn low-intensity stimuli, and T. carbonaria was insensitive to stimulus intensity as a cue. These comparative findings suggest that there may be some common roots underpinning colour perception in bee pollinators and how they interact with flowers, although species-specific differences do exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Koethe
- Institute of Sensory Ecology, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Lara Reinartz
- Institute of Sensory Ecology, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Jair E. Garcia
- School of Media and Communication, RMIT University, Building 5.2.36, City Campus, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC 3001 Australia
| | - Adrian G. Dyer
- School of Media and Communication, RMIT University, Building 5.2.36, City Campus, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC 3001 Australia ,Department of Physiology, Monash University, Melbourne, 3800 Australia ,Institute of Developmental Biology and Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg Universität, Mainz, Germany
| | - Klaus Lunau
- Institute of Sensory Ecology, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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7
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Jezeera MA, Tichit P, Balamurali GS, Baird E, Kelber A, Somanathan H. Spatial resolution and sensitivity of the eyes of the stingless bee, Tetragonula iridipennis. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2021; 208:225-238. [PMID: 34738166 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-021-01521-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Stingless bees are important pollinators in the tropics. The tremendous variation in body size makes them an excellent group to study how miniaturization affects vision and visual behaviours. Using direct measurements and micro-CT, we reconstructed the eye structure, estimated anatomical spatial resolution and optical sensitivity of the stingless bee Tetragonula iridipennis. T. iridipennis is similar in size to the Australian stingless bee Tetragonula carbonaria and is smaller than honeybees. It has correspondingly small eyes (area = 0.56 mm2), few ommatidia (2451 ± 127), large inter-facet (3.0 ± 0.6°) and acceptance angles (2.8°). Theoretical estimates suggest that T. iridipennis has poorer spatial resolution (0.17 cycles degree-1) than honeybees, bumblebees, and T. carbonaria. Its optical sensitivity (0.08 µm2 sr), though higher than expected, is within the range of diurnal bees. This may provide them with greater contrast sensitivity, which is likely more relevant than the absolute sensitivity in this diurnal bee. Behaviourally determined detection thresholds for single targets using y-maze experiments were 11.5° for targets that provide chromatic contrast alone and 9.1° for targets providing chromatic and achromatic contrast. Further studies into microhabitat preferences and behaviour are required to understand how miniaturization influences its visual ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Asmi Jezeera
- IISER TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
| | - Pierre Tichit
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - G S Balamurali
- IISER TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Emily Baird
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Almut Kelber
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Hema Somanathan
- IISER TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
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8
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Meena A, Kumar AMV, Balamurali GS, Somanathan H. Visual detection thresholds in the Asian honeybee, Apis cerana. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2021; 207:553-560. [PMID: 34152429 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-021-01496-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
To understand how insect pollinators find flowers against complex backgrounds in diverse natural habitats, it is required to accurately estimate the thresholds for target detection. Detection thresholds for single targets vary between bee species and have been estimated in the Western honeybee, a species of bumblebee and in a stingless bee species. We estimated the angular range of detection for coloured targets in the Asian honeybee Apis cerana. Using a Y-maze experimental set up, we show that targets that provided both chromatic and green receptor contrast were detected at a minimum visual angle of 7.7°, while targets with only chromatic contrast were detected at a minimum angle of 13.2°. Our results thus provide a robust foundation for future studies on the visual ecology of bees in a comparative interspecific framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Meena
- School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali, 140306, India
| | - Arya M V Kumar
- IISER TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695551, India
| | - G S Balamurali
- IISER TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695551, India.
| | - Hema Somanathan
- IISER TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695551, India
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9
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Romero-González JE, Solvi C, Chittka L. Honey bees adjust colour preferences in response to concurrent social information from conspecifics and heterospecifics. Anim Behav 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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10
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Balamurali GS, Rose S, Somanathan H, Kodandaramaiah U. Complex multi-modal sensory integration and context specificity in colour preferences of a pierid butterfly. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb223271. [PMID: 32414875 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.223271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Innate colour preferences in insects were long considered to be a non-flexible representation of a floral 'search image' guiding them to flowers during initial foraging trips. However, these colour preferences have recently been shown to be modulated by multi-sensory integration of information. Using experiments on the butterfly Catopsilia pomona (common emigrant), we demonstrate that cross-modal integration of information not only affects colour preferences but also colour learning, and in a sex-specific manner. We show that spontaneous colour preference in this species is sexually dimorphic, with males preferring both blue and yellow while females prefer yellow. With minimal training (two training sessions), both males and females learned to associate blue with reward, but females did not learn green. This suggests that the aversion to green, in the context of foraging, is stronger in females than in males, probably because green is used as a cue to find oviposition sites in butterflies. However, females learned green after extensive training (five training sessions). Intriguingly, when a floral odour was present along with green during training, female colour preference during the subsequent choice tests resembled their innate preference (preference for yellow). Our results show that multi-sensory integration of information can influence preference, sensory bias, learning and memory in butterflies, thus modulating their behaviour in a context-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- G S Balamurali
- IISER-TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
| | - Saloni Rose
- IISER-TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Hema Somanathan
- IISER-TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
| | - Ullasa Kodandaramaiah
- IISER-TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
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11
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Guerrero-Rubio MA, Escribano J, García-Carmona F, Gandía-Herrero F. Light Emission in Betalains: From Fluorescent Flowers to Biotechnological Applications. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 25:159-175. [PMID: 31843371 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2019.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of visible fluorescence in the plant pigments betalains revealed the existence of fluorescent patterns in flowers of plants of the order Caryophyllales, where betalains substitute anthocyanins. The serendipitous initial discovery led to a systemized characterization of the role of different substructures on the photophysical phenomenon. Strong fluorescence is general to all members of the family of betaxanthins linked to the structural property that the betalamic acid moiety is connected to an amine group. This property has led to bioinspired tailor-made probes and to the development of novel biotechnological applications in screening techniques or microscopy labeling. Here, we comprehensively review the photophysics, photochemistry, and photobiology of betalain fluorescence and describe all current applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Alejandra Guerrero-Rubio
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Josefa Escribano
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Francisco García-Carmona
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Fernando Gandía-Herrero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
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12
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Amaya-Márquez M, Tusso S, Hernández J, Jiménez JD, Wells H, I. Abramson C. Olfactory Learning in the Stingless Bee Melipona eburnea Friese (Apidae: Meliponini). INSECTS 2019; 10:insects10110412. [PMID: 31752087 PMCID: PMC6920981 DOI: 10.3390/insects10110412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Olfactory learning and floral scents are co-adaptive traits in the plant–pollinator relationship. However, how scent relates to cognition and learning in the diverse group of Neotropical stingless bees is largely unknown. Here we evaluated the ability of Melipona eburnea to be conditioned to scent using the proboscis extension reflex (PER) protocol. Stingless bees did not show PER while harnessed but were able to be PER conditioned to scent when free-to-move in a mini-cage (fmPER). We evaluated the effect of: 1) unconditioned stimulus (US) reward, and 2) previous scent–reward associations on olfactory learning performance. When using unscented-US, PER-responses were low on day 1, but using scented-US reward the olfactory PER-response increased on day 1. On day 2 PER performance greatly increased in bees that previously had experienced the same odor and reward combination, while bees that experienced a different odor on day 2 showed poor olfactory learning. Bees showed higher olfactory PER conditioning to guava than to mango odor. The effect of the unconditioned stimulus reward was not a significant factor in the model on day 2. This indicates that olfactory learning performance can increase via either taste receptors or accumulated experience with the same odor. Our results have application in agriculture and pollination ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisol Amaya-Márquez
- Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (J.H.); (J.D.J.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +57-1-3165000 (ext. 11503/11546)
| | - Sergio Tusso
- Science for Life Laboratories and Department of Evolutionary Biology, Norbyvägen 18D, Uppsala University, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden;
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, 82152 Grosshaderner Str. Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Juan Hernández
- Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (J.H.); (J.D.J.)
| | - Juan Darío Jiménez
- Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (J.H.); (J.D.J.)
| | | | - Charles I. Abramson
- Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA;
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13
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Hempel de Ibarra N, Somanathan H. How are pollinators guided by colourful floral structures? A commentary on: 'The role of pollinator preference in the maintenance of pollen colour variation'. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2019; 123:iv-vi. [PMID: 31231756 PMCID: PMC6589504 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcz080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
This article comments on: Jennifer L. Ison, Elizabeth S. L. Tuan, Matthew H. Koski, Jack S. Whalen and Laura F. Galloway. 2019. The role of pollinator preference in the maintenance of pollen colour variation. Annals of Botany 123(6): 951–960.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Hempel de Ibarra
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, UK
- Corresponding author details: Natalie Hempel de Ibarra,
| | - Hema Somanathan
- IISER TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution, School of Biology, Indian Institute for Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, India
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Balamurali GS, Edison A, Somanathan H, Kodandaramaiah U. Spontaneous colour preferences and colour learning in the fruit-feeding butterfly, Mycalesis mineus. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-019-2648-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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de Morais CR, Travençolo BAN, Carvalho SM, Beletti ME, Vieira Santos VS, Campos CF, de Campos Júnior EO, Pereira BB, Carvalho Naves MP, de Rezende AAA, Spanó MA, Vieira CU, Bonetti AM. Ecotoxicological effects of the insecticide fipronil in Brazilian native stingless bees Melipona scutellaris (Apidae: Meliponini). CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 206:632-642. [PMID: 29778941 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.04.153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Melipona scutellaris Latreille, 1811 (Hymenoptera, Apidae) is a pollinator of various native and cultivated plants. Because of the expansion of agriculture and the need to ensure pest control, the use of insecticides such as fipronil (FP) has increased. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of sublethal doses of FP insecticide on M. scutellaris at different time intervals (6, 12, and 24 h) after exposure, via individually analyzed behavioral biomarkers (locomotor activity, behavioral change) as well as the effect of FP on different brain structures of bees (mushroom bodies, antennal cells, and optic cells), using sub-individual cell biomarkers (heterochromatin dispersion, total nuclear and heterochromatic volume). Forager bees were collected when they were returning to the nest and were exposed to three different concentrations of FP (0.40, 0.040, and 0.0040 ng a.i/bee) by topical application. The results revealed a reduction in the mean velocity, lethargy, motor difficulty, paralysis, and hyperexcitation in all groups of bees treated with FP. A modification of the heterochromatic dispersion pattern and changes in the total volume of the nucleus and heterochromatin were also observed in the mushroom bodies (6, 12, and 24 h of exposure) and antennal lobes (6 and 12 h) of bees exposed to 0.0040 ng a.i/bee (LD50/100). FP is toxic to M. scutellaris and impairs the essential functions required for the foraging activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cássio Resende de Morais
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Campus Umuarama, 38900-402, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Bruno Augusto Nassif Travençolo
- Faculty of Computer Science, Federal University of Uberlândia, Campus Santa Mônica, 38400-902, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Stephan Malfitano Carvalho
- Departament of Entomology, Federal University of Lavras, PO Box 3037, 37200-000, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Emílio Beletti
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Campos Umuarama, 38900-402, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Santana Vieira Santos
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Campus Umuarama, 38900-402, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Carlos Fernando Campos
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Campus Umuarama, 38900-402, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Boscolli Barbosa Pereira
- Institute of Geography, Federal University of Uberlândia, Campus Santa Mônica, 38400-902, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Maria Paula Carvalho Naves
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Campus Umuarama, 38900-402, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Mário Antônio Spanó
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Campus Umuarama, 38900-402, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Carlos Ueira Vieira
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Campus Umuarama, 38900-402, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria Bonetti
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Campus Umuarama, 38900-402, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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