Faculty Sponsor
Aimee Dunlap
Final Abstract for URS Program
The declining population of bumblebees worldwide poses an unmistakable threat to ecological systems and biodiversity. Therefore, a deep understanding of the factors at play when bees are foraging is crucial to conservation efforts. This research aims to explore the energy that foraging bumblebees are willing to expend at a known food source after the food has stopped, and if these responses reveal sugar concentration preferences. In this experiment a novel approach was used, adapted from psychology research on addiction, to measure bee’s preferences for different concentration of sugar-water (nectar). First, how many rewards the bees earned if they were given 1 reward each time they visited an artificial flower (fixed ratio) was measured. Next, the bee was ran again but the cost of each reward was increased by 1 visit each time the bee consumed the reward (progressive ratio). This functionally made the reward progressively more expensive. This was repeated until the bee returned to the colony or stopped responding. These messages were alternated between until the bee had completed a fixed and progressive ratio for each reward type. (30%, 45%, and 60% sucrose). This research found that the preferences bees demonstrated no preference in sugar concentration. Progressive ratio sessions likely mimic wild conditions better because flowers are drained of nectar throughout the day by competing pollinators and they produce less nectar as they age. Researchers should consider using progressive ratio a measure of preference because it better matched wild conditions. Preferences measured using free-access to food are likely overstated.
Presentation Type
Visual Presentation
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
April 2023