Specialization on pollen or nectar in bumblebee foragers is not associated with ovary size, lipid reserves or sensory tuning

PeerJ

article

Adam R. Smith¹  Peter Graystock²  William O.H. Hughes³ 

[1] Department of Biological Sciences, George Washington University;Department of Entomology, University of California;School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex

关键词: Reproductive ground plan hypothesis;    Foraging specialization;    Division of labor;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.2599

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

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.

【 授权许可】

CC BY