Short-term exposure to heatwave-like temperatures affects learning and memory in bumblebees.

ABSTRACT: Global warming has been identified as a key driver of bee declines around the world. While it is clear that elevated temperatures during the spring and summer months-the principal activity period of many bee species-is a factor in this decline, exactly how temperature affects bee survival is unknown. In vertebrates, there is clear evidence that elevated ambient temperatures impair cognition but whether and how heat affects the cognitive abilities of invertebrates remains unclear. Cognitive skills in bees are essential for their survival as, to supply the hive with nutrition, workers must be able to learn and remember the location of the most rewarding floral resources. Here, we investigate whether temperature-related cognitive impairments could be a driver of bee declines by exploring the

SUBMITTER: Gerard M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9541601 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature