Specialization on pollen or nectar in bumblebee foragers is not associated with ovary size, lipid reserves or sensory tuning
Author(s)
Smith, Adam R
Graystock, Peter
Hughes, William OH
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Foraging specialization allows social insects to more efficiently exploit resources in their environment. Recent research on honeybees suggests that specialization on pollen or nectar among foragers is linked to reproductive physiology and sensory tuning (the Reproductive Ground-Plan Hypothesis; RGPH). However, our understanding of the underlying physiological relationships in non-Apis bees is still limited. Here we show that the bumblebee Bombus terrestris has specialist pollen and nectar foragers, and test whether foraging specialization in B. terrestris is linked to reproductive physiology, measured as ovarian activation. We show that neither ovary size, sensory sensitivity, measured through proboscis extension response (PER), or whole-body lipid stores differed between pollen foragers, nectar foragers, or generalist foragers. Body size also did not differ between any of these three forager groups. Non-foragers had significantly larger ovaries than foragers. This suggests that potentially reproductive individuals avoid foraging.
Date Issued
2016-10-27
Date Acceptance
2016-09-23
Citation
PeerJ, 2016, 4
ISSN
2167-8359
Publisher
PeerJ Inc.
Journal / Book Title
PeerJ
Volume
4
Copyright Statement
© 2016 Smith et al. Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (CC-BY 4.0 - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000387168200008&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Science & Technology
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Science & Technology - Other Topics
Reproductive ground plan hypothesis
Foraging specialization
Division of labor
DIVISION-OF-LABOR
REPRODUCTIVE GROUND-PLAN
APIS-MELLIFERA L.
FORAGING BEHAVIOR
BOMBUS-TERRESTRIS
SOCIAL-BEHAVIOR
BODY-SIZE
BEES
EVOLUTION
WORKERS
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
e2599
Date Publish Online
2016-10-27