Amino Acid Preferences in Bumble Bees
Loading...
Authors
Reynolds, Brandy
Issue Date
2015
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Bumble bees (Bombus impatiens) forage for nectar and pollen alike, however,
little is known as to whether bees sense the nutritive value of different pollens. Pollen is a
major source of protein for bumble bees, as they feed it to larvae and use it to make eggs
(Nicolson, 2011). In comparison to honey bees (Apis meliifera), bumble bees collect
pollen from more diverse plant species and return to the colony with pollen loads higher
in essential amino acids (Leonhardt et al., 2012). Whether or not a bumble bee can detect
these amino acids through taste and/or smell and choose pollen on this basis is unknown
(Brito Sanchez et al., 2007). I asked whether bumble bees have the ability to taste/smell
the difference between different amino acid solutions, specifically Glycine, Threonine,
Proline, and Phenylalanine. In honey bees, research has shown that these amino acids
may play an important role in nutrition, but little is known as to the importance in bumble
bees. In a series of feeding choice assays, I tested these amino acids at different
concentrations to determine if there was an effect on bumble bee preference at high or
low concentrations. This study lays the groundwork for understanding what role gustation
plays in the recent North American bumble bee declines. These declines affect
pollination of agricultural crops and native plant species (Cameron et al., 2010). Thus,
understanding bumble bee nutrition is important to keep their species thriving and
consequently our species as well. This research will shed light on a basic aspect of
bumble bee nutrition and assess whether their preferences for different quality pollens
potentially contribute to their current decline.
Description
Citation
Publisher
License
In Copyright(All Rights Reserved)