Generalization and Transfer of Navigation Memory in Honeybees

Abstract

Flying insects like the honeybee learn multiple features of the environment for efficient navigation. Here we ask whether the memory of such features is generalized to novel test conditions. Foraging bees from colonies located in 5 different home areas were tested in a common area for their search flights. Harmonic radar was used to track the search flights of the bees. The test area resembled partly or not at all the layout of landmarks in the respective home areas. Random search as the only guide for searching was excluded by two model calculations. The generalization and transfer effect was quantified by a partial least squares regression analysis of the guiding effect of the ground structures in the test area. Classification was performed with a support vector machine in order to account for optimal hyperplanes. A rank order of well separated clusters was found that partly resemble the graded differences between the ground structures of the home areas and the test area. We conclude that foragers guide their search flights by a generalization and transfer process that is based on their acquired navigation memory. The conclusion is discussed in the context of the learning and generalization process in an insect, the honeybee.