The effects of ingested aqueous aluminum on floral fidelity and foraging strategy in honey bees (Apis mellifera)

Chicas‐Mosier, Ana M.; Cooper, Bree A.; Melendez, Alexander M.; Pérez, Melina; Oskay, Devrim; Abramson, Charles I.

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.05.008

Cited by 19 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Selenium affects development and lifespan, and reduces long-term memory and responsiveness to sucrose [22–24]. Aluminum similarly bio-accumulates in pollinator species and has been shown to decrease foraging adaptability without causing any taste aversion however, memory and responsiveness to sucrose stimulation have not been tested [18, 25, 26]. Aluminum is the third most abundant element in the earth’s crust but is more of a toxicological concern presently as a result of poor mining practices and acidification caused by human activity [15, 27].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Free-flight studies allow us to determine if exposure is realistically altering pollinator forage and if these effects may be a concern. Previous behavioral experiments have found that there is likely little to no taste aversion from aluminum in nectar and that there may be foraging deficits from exposure [25, 26]. These studies have shown that aluminum affects floral color fidelity, and that visitation duration and frequency may change dependent on exposure concentration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These studies have shown that aluminum affects floral color fidelity, and that visitation duration and frequency may change dependent on exposure concentration. These results occur almost immediately after exposure to low aluminum concentrations in nectar [25]. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding disorientation, motor control, and hyperactivity, or if color bias is dependent on the attractiveness of the color choices offered.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Honey bee species in Turkey showed a preference for blue flowers over white when the flowers contained equal rewards. However, when flowers contained unequal rewards, and bees were exposed to aluminum, they did not differentiate higher value flowers based on color cues [25]. There is debate as to whether a comparison between blue and white flowers or blue and yellow flowers may show starker evidence of color preference.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When offered the choice between blue and yellow flowers, honey bees may actively visit only one color morph whereas when offered blue and white flowers bees typically visit both colors with a slight blue preference [35, 49]. As a previous study showed a slight depression in color preference when exposed to low doses of aluminum, the present study uses yellow-blue comparisons to attempt to further unravel preference change as a result of exposure [25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Honey bees (Apis mellifera spp.) respond to increased aluminum exposure in their foraging choice, motility, and circadian rhythmicity

et al. 2019

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Aluminum is increasingly globally bioavailable with acidification from industrial emissions and poor mining practices. This bioavailability increases uptake by flora, contaminating products such as fruit, pollen, and nectar. Concentrations of aluminum in fruit and pollen have been reported between 0.05 and 670mg/L in North America. This is particularly concerning for pollinators that ingest pollen and nectar. Honey bees represent a globally present species experiencing decline in Europe and North America. Region specific decline may be a result of differential toxicity of exposure between subspecies. We find that European honey bees ( Apis mellifera mellifera ) may have differential toxicity as compared to two allopatric Mediterranean subspecies ( Apis mellifera carnica and Apis mellifera caucasica ) which showed no within subspecies exposure differences. European honey bees were then used in a laboratory experiment and exposed to aluminum in their daily water supply to mimic nectar contamination at several concentrations. After approximately 3 weeks of aluminum ingestion these bees showed significantly shorter captive longevity than controls at concentrations as low as 10.4mg/L and showed a possible hormetic response in motility. We also compared European honey bees to Africanized/European hybrid bees ( Apis mellifera mellifera/scutellata hybrid) in short-term free-flight experiments. Neither the European honey bee nor the hybrid showed immediate foraging deficits in flight time, color choice, or floral manipulation after aluminum exposure. We conclude that European honey bees are at the greatest risk of aluminum related decline from chronic ingestion as compared to other subspecies and offer new methods for future use in honey bee toxicology.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Honey bees (Apis mellifera spp.) respond to increased aluminum exposure in their foraging choice, motility, and circadian rhythmicity

et al. 2019

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Low Strength Magnetic Fields Serve as a Cue for Foraging Honey Bees but Prior Experience is More Indicative of Choice

Chicas‐Mosier

Radi

Lafferrandre

et al. 2020

Bioelectromagnetics

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Species of migrating insects use magnetic fields as a navigational tool that is independent of current weather conditions and non-migrating species have been shown to discriminate anomalies in magnetic field from the earth's baseline. Honey bee discrimination of magnetic field has been studied in the context of associative learning, physiology, and whole hive responses. This article uses a combination of free-flight and laboratory studies to determine how small fluctuations from Earth's magnetic field affect honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) decision-making. Honey bees were tested in three experiments: (i) recruitment to an aqueous sucrose feeder, (ii) an artificial free-flight flower patch with floral color-dependent magnetic field strength, and (iii) a Y-maze with alternating colors on a stronger magnetic field. In free-flying feeder experiments, magnetic field served as a temporary cue, but when offered an equal caloric alternative with lesser magnetic field, the latter was preferred. Flower patch experiments showed initial color biases that were abandoned as a response to magnetic field induction. In laboratory experiments, bees showed a color-dependent behavioral response to the magnetic field. The results of this study indicate that bees may use small fluctuations in magnetic fields as a cue but that it is likely low-value as compared with other stimuli.

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Mineral Content in Honeybee Wax Combs as a Measurement of the Impact of Environmental Factors

Gajger

Kosanović

Oreščanin³

et al. 2019

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol

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The effects of ingested aqueous aluminum on floral fidelity and foraging strategy in honey bees (Apis mellifera)

Cited by 19 publications

References 56 publications

Honey bees (Apis mellifera spp.) respond to increased aluminum exposure in their foraging choice, motility, and circadian rhythmicity

Honey bees (Apis mellifera spp.) respond to increased aluminum exposure in their foraging choice, motility, and circadian rhythmicity

Low Strength Magnetic Fields Serve as a Cue for Foraging Honey Bees but Prior Experience is More Indicative of Choice

Mineral Content in Honeybee Wax Combs as a Measurement of the Impact of Environmental Factors

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