Manipulation of colony environment modulates honey bee aggression and brain gene expression.

ABSTRACT: The social environment plays an essential role in shaping behavior for most animals. Social effects on behavior are often linked to changes in brain gene expression. In the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.), social modulation of individual aggression allows colonies to adjust the intensity with which they defend their hive in response to predation threat. Previous research has showed social effects on both aggression and aggression-related brain gene expression in honey bees, caused by alarm pheromone and unknown factors related to colony genotype. For example, some bees from less aggressive genetic stock reared in colonies with genetic predispositions toward increased aggression show both increased aggression and more aggressive-like brain gene expression profiles. We tested the hypothesis th

SUBMITTER: Rittschof CC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3863782 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature