Flowers as complex signals: The role of signal uncertainty

纵观历史，人类对花一直有着浓厚的兴趣，部分原因是它们以多种方式刺激我们的感官。它们鲜艳的颜色、奇特的图案和形状、诱人的香味吸引着人类，在植物授粉中起着关键作用。令人惊讶的是，对于为什么花如此复杂，由多种感官形式的多种成分组成，人们知之甚少。在这个项目中，多组分花信号在传粉中的功能被探索，使用一个综合的方法来解决传粉者的感觉和认知能力和局限性。这项研究的主要论点是，复杂的、多组分的信号比简单的信号更可靠地将信息从植物传递给传粉者。为了解决这一问题，将采用一个基于实验室的模型系统，该系统涉及大黄蜂（Bombus impatiens）学习寻找与颜色，形状，图案和气味刺激相关的花蜜奖励。学习和花卉选择的测试是基于心理学和经济学理论的预测，即信号复杂性将如何影响蜜蜂觅食行为的速度和准确性。虽然这项工作以蜜蜂和花朵为模型系统，但这项工作提供的见解将对动物交流和认知的研究做出广泛贡献。此外，研究结果将有助于建立一个知识体系，用于解决正在进行的全国蜜蜂作物授粉危机。该项目旨在指导来自代表性不足群体的本科生，并将包括一个针对高中生的以蜜蜂为导向的科学职业研讨会。

Flowers have been of keen interest to humans throughout history, owing partly to the multitude of ways in which they stimulate our senses. Their brilliant colors, unusual patterns and shapes, and alluring fragrance enthrall humans and play a pivotal role in plant pollination. Surprisingly little is understood about why flowers are so complex, consisting of multiple components in multiple sensory modalities. In this project, the function of the multi-component floral signal in pollination is explored, using an integrative approach that addresses the pollinator's sensory and cognitive abilities and limitations. The main thesis of the research is that complex, multi-component signals convey information from plant to pollinator more reliably than simpler signals. To address this thesis, a laboratory-based model system involving bumble bees (Bombus impatiens) learning to forage for nectar rewards associated with color, shape, pattern and odor stimuli will be employed. Tests of learning and floral choice are guided by predictions, based in psychological and economic theory, about how signal complexity will affect the speed and accuracy of a bee's foraging behavior. Although the proposed work uses bees and flowers as a model system, the insights furnished by the work will contribute broadly to the study of animal communication and cognition. Additionally, results will contribute to a body of knowledge used to address an ongoing national crisis in crop pollination by bees. The project aims to mentor undergraduates from underrepresented groups and will include a bumble bee-oriented workshop on science careers targeted at high school students.