Faculty Sponsor
Aimee Dunlap PhD
Final Abstract for URS Program
Caffeine, a naturally occurring stimulant found in the nectar of some flowering plants (e.g., coffee, citrus), has been shown to affect insect behavior, including learning and memory in bumblebees. The presence of this compound in floral resources suggests a potential role in shaping pollinator foraging strategies. This study investigated the impact of caffeine exposure on the foraging behavior of bumble bees (Bombus impatiens).
Individually tagged bees were trained to forage on an artificial flower wall to establish a baseline foraging pattern. Following training, the bees were isolated and randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: a control group receiving 3 µl of a 60% sucrose solution, and a caffeine group receiving 3 µl of a 0.0001 M caffeine solution mixed in 60% sucrose. This concentration of caffeine was chosen to mimic levels found in some floral nectars.
The foraging behavior of treated bees was subsequently observed in a testing arena containing an artificial flower wall with flowers filled with a consistent 60% sucrose reward. Video analysis was used to record each bee's flower visits, noting the sequence, duration, and whether the visit was profitable (accessing the sucrose reward) or unprofitable (already visited or empty). Several foraging parameters were analyzed, including average session length, the number of profitable and unprofitable visits, the total number of visits, and the average foraging rate.
Presentation Type
Visual Presentation
Document Type
Article