Impact of Food Availability, Pathogen Exposure, and Genetic Diversity on Thermoregulation in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)

Accurate thermoregulation in honey bees is crucial for colony survival. Multiple factors influence how colonies manage in-hive temperature, including genetic diversity. We explored the influence of genetic diversity on thermoregulatory behavior under three conditions: natural foraging, supplemental...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of insect behavior 2014-07, Vol.27 (4), p.527-539
Main Authors: Simone-Finstrom, M, Foo, B, Tarpy, D. R, Starks, P. T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agriculture
Ambient temperature
Animal behavior
Animal Ecology
Animal ethology
Animal populations
Animal productions
Apiculture
Apis mellifera
Bees
Behavioral Sciences
Biological and medical sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
circadian rhythm
dietary supplements
Entomology
Evolutionary Biology
fever
Food availability
foraging
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
fungi
Genetic diversity
genetic variation
Honey
honey bees
Insecta
Invertebrates
Life Sciences
nectar
Neurobiology
Pathogens
Protozoa. Invertebrata
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Terrestrial animal productions
thermoregulation
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Summary:Accurate thermoregulation in honey bees is crucial for colony survival. Multiple factors influence how colonies manage in-hive temperature, including genetic diversity. We explored the influence of genetic diversity on thermoregulatory behavior under three conditions: natural foraging, supplemental feeding, and exposure to the fungal pathogen shown to induce a social fever in honey bees. Our data suggest that (1) the degree of genetic diversity expected under normal conditions is not predictive of thermoregulatory stability, (2) the social fever response of honey bees is not a simple stimulus–response mechanism but appears to be influenced by ambient temperature conditions, and (3) a temperature-based circadian rhythm emerges under high nectar flow conditions. Taken together, these data suggest that a richer, context-dependent thermoregulatory system exists in honey bees than previously understood.
ISSN:0892-7553
1572-8889
DOI:10.1007/s10905-014-9447-3