Award details

An harmonic radar investigation of the navigational performance of honey bees

Reference	S15259
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Joseph Riley
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Mr Alan Smith, Mr Ian Woiwod
Institution	Rothamsted Research
Department	Rothamsted Research Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	108,224
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/11/2001
End date	01/11/2004
Duration	36 months

Abstract

We propose to use the newly-developed technique of harmonic radar to study the navigational abilities of honey bees in much greater detail than has hitherto been possible. In particular, we will attempt to resolve the still controversial question of whether bees are able to use some form of cognitive map, rather than relying on route memories. In addition, we will examine the extent to which bees recruited to the waggle dance of successful foragers, actually fly the directed trajectories claimed by von Frisch (1967). In this context, we will also investigate the effect of winds on flight behaviour, paying particular attention to the role that odour plumes may also play in the recruitment of bees to new forage sources.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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