The Behaviour of Bees in Dim Light

人工照明的扩展改变了许多自然和农业栖息地的照明条件，对生态系统中的动植物产生了许多预期影响(Davies，Bennie，Inger，Hempel de Ibarra，Gaston 2013人工光污染：变化的光谱特征是否改变了物种相互作用的平衡？Glob Chang Biol 19,1417-23)。然而，对于动物的生理、神经和行为机制，仍然缺乏大量的实证研究和知识来批判性地评估和支持这些预测。在这里，我们的目标是研究蜜蜂在昏暗的光线条件下觅食时的视觉和认知能力。蜜蜂具有极佳的色觉，并能很快学会辨别花朵的颜色和图案(Hempelde Ibarra，Vorobyev，Menzel 2014)，蜜蜂的色觉机制、功能和生态。J Comp Physiol A 200,411-33)。然而，他们在昏暗的灯光下的表现和决策仍然鲜为人知。利用精心设计的行为实验、定量数据建模和实地测量，该项目旨在研究蜜蜂觅食行为背后的感觉和认知机制，以加深对自然和人工昏暗光照造成的限制的理解。这项研究将有助于开发关于授粉服务的潜在后果以及蜜蜂种群的营养和健康状况的更具体的预测

Expansion of artificial lighting changes the illumination conditions in many natural and agriculturalhabitats with many predicted impacts on plants and animals in ecosystems (Davies, Bennie, Inger,Hempel de Ibarra, Gaston 2013 Artificial light pollution: are shifting spectral signatures changing thebalance of species interactions?. Glob Chang Biol 19, 1417-23). However, there is still a significant lackof empirical research and knowledge about physiological, neural and behavioural mechanisms ofanimals to critically evaluate and support these predictions. Here we aim to study the visual andcognitive capabilities of bees when they forage under dim light conditions. Bees have excellent colourvision and quickly learn to discriminate between flowers learning their colours and patterns (Hempelde Ibarra, Vorobyev, Menzel 2014 Mechanisms, functions and ecology of colour vision in thehoneybee. J Comp Physiol A 200, 411-33). Their performance and decision-making under dim light,however, is still poorly understood. Using carefully designed behavioural experiments, quantitativedata modelling and measurements in the field this project aims to study sensory and cognitivemechanisms underlying bee foraging behaviour to develop an understanding of the limitationsimposed by dim illumination, natural and artificial. This research will help to develop more specificpredictions about the potential consequences for pollination services and the nutritional and healthstatus of bee populations