Serial Dilutions: A New Area of Research for Animal Behavior

2012 ◽  
Vol 111 (2) ◽  
pp. 473-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sondra L. Nolf ◽  
David Philip Arthur Craig ◽  
Charles I. Abramson
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Animal Behavior ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
History Of ◽  
Proboscis Extension ◽  
Serial Dilutions

This paper attempts to stimulate the psychological investigation of homeopathy and serially agitated dilutions. The history of homeopathy and serial dilutions is provided in a literature review of selected research areas. Two original illustrative experiments are also presented and discussed. The first examined the effect of serially agitated dilutions of Sevin® on the mortality rate of honey bees ( Apis mellifera). In a second experiment, the effect of serially agitated dilutions of sucrose on proboscis extension in honey bees was assessed. No differences were found between serially agitated dilutions of pesticides and sucrose compared with dilutions alone. Implications, limitations, and proposed further work are discussed.

scholarly journals Biologia das abelhas Apis Mellifera: Uma revisão bibliográfica

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 08
Author(s):  
Alline Thamara de Sousa Domingos ◽  
Monasses Marques da Nóbrega ◽  
Rogério Alexandrino da Silva
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Gradual Increase ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Electronic Library ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Descriptive Approach ◽  
Sciverse Scopus

<p>As abelhas melíferas são de suma importância para a diversidade biológica dos ecossistemas, sendo as mais usadas a serviço da polinização de plantas, por causa das suas características e adaptação das estruturas florais. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi realizar uma revisão literária sobre os estudos relacionados a biologia das abelhas, visando a tecer reflexões sobre esse tema no contexto da apicultura. Os dados foram coletados no período de junho de 2016, utilizando abordagem quantitativa e descritiva, através de livros e seguintes bases de dados: SciVerse Scopus, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) e a Ferramenta de Pesquisa Acadêmica (Scholar Google). A busca foi desenvolvida utilizando-se o descritor de assunto, morfologia, reprodução e genética de <em>Apis mellifera</em>, referida em periódicos sobre o tema. Observa-se um aumento gradativo de informações coletadas pela temática dos descritores mencionados. Finalmente, as informações aqui registradas poderão servir como base para novos estudos.</p><p align="center"><strong><em>Biology of bees Apis mellifera: A literature review</em></strong><strong><em></em></strong></p><p>Honey bees are very important for biological diversity of ecosystems, the most used in the service of pollination of plants, because of their characteristics and adaptation of floral structures. The aim of this study was to review the literature on studies related to the biology of bees, aiming to weave reflections on this issue in the context of beekeeping. Data were collected from June 2016, using quantitative and descriptive approach, through books and following databases: SciVerse Scopus, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and the Academic Research Tool (Google Scholar). The search was developed using the descriptor, morphology, reproduction and genetics of Apis mellifera, said in journals on the subject. It is observed a gradual increase of information collected by the theme of the above descriptors. Finally, the information recorded here may serve as a basis for further studies.<strong></strong></p>

scholarly journals Do Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) Form Cognitive Representations of Unconditioned Stimuli?

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiri Li N. Stauch ◽  
Harrington Wells ◽  
Charles I. Abramson
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Experimental Designs ◽  
Not Given ◽  
Cognitive Representation ◽  
Proboscis Extension Response ◽  
Cognitive Representations ◽  
Avoidance Behaviors ◽  
The Us ◽  
Proboscis Extension

Previous research looking at expectancy in animals has used various experimental designs focusing on appetitive and avoidance behaviors. In this study, honey bees (Apis mellifera) were tested ina series of three proboscis extension response (PER) experiments to determine to what degree honey bees’ form a cognitive-representation of an unconditioned stimulus (US). Tthe first experiment, bees were presented with either a 2 sec. sucrose US or 2 sec. honey US appetitive reward and the proboscis-extension duration was measured under each scenario. The PER duration was longer for the honey US even though each US was presented for just 2 sec. Honey bees in the second experiment were tested during extinction trials on a conditioned stimulus (CS) of cinnamon or lavender that was paired with either the sucrose US or honey US in the acquisition trials. The proportion of bees showing the PER response to the CS was recorded for each extinction trial for each US scenario, as was the duration of the proboscis extension for each bee. Neither measure differed between the honey US and sucrose US scenarios, In experiment three, bees were presented with a cinnamon or lavender CS paired with either honey US or sucrose US in a set of acquisition trials, but here the US was not given until after the proboscis was retracted. The PER duration after the CS, and again subsequent after the US, were recorded. While the PER duration after the US was longer for honey, the PER duration after the CS did not differ between honey US and sucrose US.

A Rapid Bioassay for Detection of Adulterated Beeswax

1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 265-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Italo S. Aquino ◽  
Charles I. Abramson ◽  
Mark E. Payton
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Initial Component ◽  
Proboscis Extension Reflex ◽  
Physical Methods ◽  
Carnauba Wax ◽  
Comprehensive Program ◽  
Rapid Bioassay ◽  
Proboscis Extension

Proboscis extension was used to test the ability of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) to detect beeswax adulterated with carnauba wax (Copernicia cerifera Arruda Camara). Subjects were exposed to either 100% beeswax (honeycomb) (e.g., no carnauba wax), 100% beeswax (melted) (e.g., as commercial beeswax cake), 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10% beeswax/carnauba mixtures, 0% beeswax (i.e., 100% carnauba wax), or unscented air. Maximum responding was observed in bees exposed to the scent of honey comb or melted beeswax cake. The addition of as little as 10% carnauba wax was readily detected and resulted in reduced proboscis extensions. Few proboscis extensions occurred to bees exposed to unscented air or 100% carnauba wax. The results indicate that the proboscis extension reflex can be used as a rapid, inexpensive, and reliable bioassay for the detection of adulterated beeswax. The bioassay will be useful in developing countries where chemical and physical methods are unavailable for detecting adulterated beeswax and can serve as an initial component in a comprehensive program of adulteration detection. An equation that predicts the probability of a proboscis response given the percent of adulterated wax is presented.

An Automated Apparatus for Conditioning Proboscis Extension in Honey Bees, Apis mellifera L.

2001 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles I. Abramson ◽  
B. J. Boyd
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Classical Conditioning ◽  
Unconditioned Stimulus ◽  
Pavlovian Conditioning ◽  
Discrimination Learning ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Automatic Programming ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Proboscis Extension ◽  
Series Of Experiments

An apparatus is described for the study of classical conditioning of proboscis extension in harnessed honey bees, Apis mellifera L., that permits automatic programming of events and recording of data. The apparatus is easy to use, accommodates a wide range of stimuli and can be used to study both associative and nonassociative learning. The technique was evaluated in a series of experiments in which the performance of bees was compared under automated and traditional methods of conditioning. The results indicated that the automated apparatus can successfully be used to study Pavlovian conditioning, discrimination learning, and habituation. A unique finding was that the odor of honeycomb can serve as an unconditioned stimulus to support Pavlovian conditioning.

Diversity in life history of queen and worker honey bees, Apis mellifera L.

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Wang ◽  
Lan-Ting Ma ◽  
Bao-Hua Xu
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
History Of

scholarly journals Digging into the Genomic Past of Swiss Honey Bees by Whole-Genome Sequencing Museum Specimens

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 2535-2551
Author(s):  
Melanie Parejo ◽  
David Wragg ◽  
Dora Henriques ◽  
Jean-Daniel Charrière ◽  
Andone Estonba
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Population History ◽  
History Museum ◽  
Whole Genomes ◽  
History Of ◽  
Commercial Breeding

Abstract Historical specimens in museum collections provide opportunities to gain insights into the genomic past. For the Western honey bee, Apis mellifera L., this is particularly important because its populations are currently under threat worldwide and have experienced many changes in management and environment over the last century. Using Swiss Apis mellifera mellifera as a case study, our research provides important insights into the genetic diversity of native honey bees prior to the industrial-scale introductions and trade of non-native stocks during the 20th century—the onset of intensive commercial breeding and the decline of wild honey bees following the arrival of Varroa destructor. We sequenced whole-genomes of 22 honey bees from the Natural History Museum in Bern collected in Switzerland, including the oldest A. mellifera sample ever sequenced. We identify both, a historic and a recent migrant, natural or human-mediated, which corroborates with the population history of honey bees in Switzerland. Contrary to what we expected, we find no evidence for a significant genetic bottleneck in Swiss honey bees, and find that genetic diversity is not only maintained, but even slightly increased, most probably due to modern apicultural practices. Finally, we identify signals of selection between historic and modern honey bee populations associated with genes enriched in functions linked to xenobiotics, suggesting a possible selective pressure from the increasing use and diversity of chemicals used in agriculture and apiculture over the last century.

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