Circadian rhythms in honeybees: entrainment by feeding cycles

Abstract

Colonies of the South African honeybee race Apis mellifera capensis (Escholtz) were maintained under constant conditions of illumination (200 lux), temperature (25 k l°C) and relative humidity (65*3%). Activity was measured at the hive entrance. After ad libitum feeding for at least 5 days, food was presented for only 2 h/day either for 1 week (series 1) or for 2 weeks (series 2). In the last part of each experiment, food was again available all the time. Colonies which showed free-running circadian activity rhythms (with periods ranging from 22.6 to 24.8 h) during ad libitum feeding were submitted to feeding cycles with interfeeding intervals (T) of 22,23,24 and 25 h. In most of these experiments the rhythms were synchronized by the feeding schedule, resulting in a stable phase-angle difference between onset of activity and onset of food availability. The duration of this anticipatory activity was positively correlated with T. When ad libitum feeding was resumed, the period of the rhythm induced by the feeding schedule persisted for a few days. Thereafter, the rhythm was free-running again with a period close to that observed in the first part of the experiment. The conclusion is drawn that, under the influence of periodic feeding, the activity of honeybee colonies has the characteristics of an entrained circadian system.

Social synchronization of circadian locomotor activity rhythm in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster

“…The most conclusive evidence for social synchronization of circadian rhythms came from studies on honeybees, which showed that the overall activity-rest behaviour of bees within a colony results from a mutual (social) synchronization of the circadian rhythms of the individual honeybees (Frisch and Aschoff, 1987;Frisch and Koeniger, 1994). More recently, in a series of elegant studies, it was shown that social interactions in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster (which has a much lower degree of sociality compared with that of the honeybee) significantly altered the phase of the circadian clocks of interacting individuals (Levine et al, 2002;Krupp et al, 2008).…”

Time-place learning and the ecology of recruitment in a stingless bee, Trigona amalthea (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

“…Animals that can learn when and where to expect resources out-compete animals that must rediscover a resource each time it is renewed. Time-place learning may be common in both eusocial and solitary insects, but has been studied only in the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.), in which it is well known (Aschoff, 1986;Frisch and Aschoff, 1987;Gould, 1987a;Gould, 1987b;Moore and Rankin, 1985), and in ectatommine ants (Beugnon et al, 1996;Harrison and Breed, 1987;Schatz et al, 1994;Schatz et al, 1999).…”

Daily Changes in Ultraviolet Light Levels Can Synchronize the Circadian Clock of Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris)

“…In contrast to Drosophila, honeybees (Apis mellifera) and bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) stay rhythmic in LL and show free-running circadian rhythms under such conditions (Frisch & Aschoff, 1987;Moore & Rankin, 1985;Spangler, 1972;Stelzer et al, 2010b). These findings suggest that cryptochrome is not responsible for the photic entrainment of their clocks.…”