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Elemental and non-elemental olfactory learning using PER conditioning in the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris

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Abstract

Learning olfactory stimuli and their implications is essential in bumblebees for orientation and recognition of nest sites and food sources. To evaluate associative learning abilities in bees under controlled environmental conditions, the proboscis extension response (PER) assay is a well-established method used in honeybees and has recently been successfully adapted to bumblebees. In this study, we examined the cognitive abilities of workers of the eusocial bumblebee, Bombus terrestris, by training individuals in different olfactory learning tasks using classical PER conditioning. We compared learning performance for four different floral odors. Individuals were able to solve absolute (A+) and differential (A+ vs. B−) conditioning tasks, and no differences were found between single odors and odor combinations, respectively. Furthermore, bumblebees performed well on a positive pattern discrimination task (A−, B− vs. AB+), but failed to solve the negative pattern discrimination (A+, B+ vs. AB−). Our results indicate that workers of B. terrestris possess elemental olfactory learning abilities, but, in contrast to previous findings in honeybees, fail in more complex tasks, such as negative pattern discrimination. We discuss possible ultimate causes that have led to the difference in learning capabilities between bumblebees and honeybees.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Karin Möller for rearing the bumblebees. We also thank two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript. This work was supported by a PhD research scholarship offered by the Free State of Bavaria (Elitenetzwerk Bayern) to FMJS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Biozentrum, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany

    Frank M. J. Sommerlandt, Wolfgang Rössler & Johannes Spaethe

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  1. Frank M. J. Sommerlandt
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  2. Wolfgang Rössler
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  3. Johannes Spaethe
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Correspondence to Frank M. J. Sommerlandt.

Additional information

Manuscript editor: Bernd Grünewald

Apprentissage olfactif de base ou complexe par conditionnement du REP (réflexe d’extension du proboscis) chez le bourdon, Bombus terrestris

Apprentissage élémentaire / bourdon / REP / associations configurales

Elementares und nicht-elementares olfaktorisches Lernen bei der PER-Konditionierung der Hummel Bombus terrestris

Elementares Lernen / Bombus terrestris / Rüsselreflexkonditionierung / Hummel / konfigurale Assoziationen

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Sommerlandt, F.M.J., Rössler, W. & Spaethe, J. Elemental and non-elemental olfactory learning using PER conditioning in the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris . Apidologie 45, 106–115 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-013-0227-4

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