Collaborative Research: Nestmate Recognition in Honey Bees

一般来说，动物对所有动物的行为方式并不相同。 他们物种的成员。 性别、年龄和生殖状况是 所有可能改变成员 同一物种的互动。 不太为人所知，最近 发现，事实上，遗传关系也会影响 交互. 在这个合作研究项目中，迈克尔·D·品种，或 科罗拉多大学的罗伯特·E.小佩奇，的 位于戴维斯的加州大学将进行实验， 确定遗传关系如何影响社会交往 在蜜蜂中。 布里德博士和佩奇博士会尝试 蜜蜂用来识别亲缘关系的化学物质。 他们 我们还将调查这些信息是如何被用于 社交互动 这项研究很重要，因为基因的细节 人际关系对社会交往的影响还不太清楚 在任何物种。 因此，这些发现可能有助于产生新的， 广义上的概括，对动物行为的理解。 这 对蜜蜂的研究也可能有助于改善管理 具有重要经济意义的养蜂业技术。

Animals, in general, do not behave in the same way toward all the members of their species. Sex, age, and reproductive status are all examples of well-known factors that might change how members of the same species interact. Less well known, and more recently discovered, is the fact that genetic relationship can also affect interactions. In this collaborative research project, Dr. Michael D. Breed, of the University of Colorado, and Dr. Robert E. Page, Jr., of the University of California at Davis, will conduct experiments to determine how genetic relationship affects social interactions among honey bees. Drs. Breed and Page will try to identify the chemicals used by bees to recognize genetic relationship. They also will investigate exactly how this information is used in social interactions. This research is important because the details of how genetic relationship affects social interaction are not well understood in any species. Thus, the findings may help to generate new, broadly generalizable, understanding of how animals behave. This work on honey bees may also help in improving management techniques for the economically important apiculture industry.