Does pollen function as a reward for honeybees in associative learning?
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UNIL restricted access
State: Public
Version: author
Serval ID
serval:BIB_2C20CFEC3074
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Does pollen function as a reward for honeybees in associative learning?
Journal
Insectes Sociaux
ISSN
1420-9098 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0020-1812 (Print)
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2008
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
55
Number
4
Pages
425-427
Language
english
Abstract
The ability to learn an association between floral characteristics such as its odor, color and shape and a reward such as nectar is key to honeybee foraging success. Here, we tested if also pollen could function as a reward for associative learning in honeybees. We found that large proportions of bees with and without field experience showed an unconditioned response, the extension of the proboscis, after touching their antennae with bee-collected pollen. Furthermore, bees readily learn to associate an odor with pollen in a classical conditioning assay. We suggest that pollen might play an important role as a reward for free-flying bees.
Keywords
Apis mellifera, unconditioned stimulus, associative learning, pollen
Web of science
Create date
21/02/2014 10:07
Last modification date
20/08/2019 13:11