Honeybees can learn to avoid nectar containing natural plant toxins but will eat it when there is no alternative, scientists at Newcastle University have found.
This means that in areas dominated by these so called 'toxic plants' such as almond or apple orchards bees struggle to find an alternative food source and so are forced to eat toxic nectar.
With honeybee populations already under stress, the Newcastle University team believe these toxin-laden nectars could, in some cases, be a factor affecting colony health.
It has long been known that while most plants reward pollinators for visiting their flowers, some offer nectar that is poisonous.
Honeybees vital for crop pollination may be susceptible to some of these nectar toxins and beekeepers and scientists have long recognized they can be poisoned by the nectar.
Now researchers in the Honeybee Lab at Newcastle University have shown for the first time that the honeybee can learn to avoid nectar containing toxins. The study showed that when bees accidentally ate nectar that made them sick, they subsequently avoided the smell of the toxic flowers.
Publishing her research today in the academic journal Current Biology, Dr Jeri Wright, director of the Newcastle University Honeybee Lab, said that understanding how honeybees learn to detect these toxins could ultimately help us to breed plants that don't produce them and protect the honeybees.
"Avoiding toxins in food is as important as obtaining nutrition," explains Dr Wright. "What we have shown here is that like humans bees are not only able to taste toxins but are also capable of learning to avoid flowers with nectar that made them feel unwell after eating it.
"The problem is that despite this, bees could be feeding on 'toxic' nectar because there is little else around for example, in a large orchard where they have been brought in specially to pollinate it. At a time when populations are already vulnerab
'/>"/>
| Contact: Louella Houldcroft press.office@ncl.ac.uk 01-912-227-850 Newcastle University Source:Eurekalert |
Related biology news :
1. Plant hormone regulates nectar production
2. Greater food insecurity from recession poses increased risk to low income individuals with diabetes
3. Biochemist proposes worldwide policy change to step up daily vitamin D intake
4. Solution to beading-saliva mystery has practical purposes
5. Propofol poses low risk in pediatric imaging studies, but risk increases with anesthesia duration
6. DNA barcoding exposes fake ferns in international plant trade
7. Linheng Li proposes novel theory for mammalian stem cell regulation
8. New, virulent strain of MRSA poses renewed antibiotic resistance concerns
9. Type 2 diabetes gene predisposes children to obesity
10. Treatment not testicular cancer poses greatest risk to survivors long-term health
11. Daily consumption of cannabis predisposes to the appearance of psychosis and schizophrenia
| Copyright © 2003-2012 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |