Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Insectes Sociauxarrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao
Insectes Sociaux
Article . 2005 . Peer-reviewed
License: Springer TDM
Data sources: Crossref
versions View all 1 versions
addClaim

This Research product is the result of merged Research products in OpenAIRE.

You have already added 0 works in your ORCID record related to the merged Research product.

Honey bee workers as mobile insulating units

Authors: Philip T. Starks; Rebecca N. Johnson; Rebecca N. Johnson; Adam J. Siegel; Adam J. Siegel; J. Hui;

Honey bee workers as mobile insulating units

Abstract

Heat-shielding is a method used by honey bee workers to insulate temperature sensitive brood from localized heat stress during development. Due largely to data collection techniques, heat-shielding has been defined as stationary bees congregating with their ventral side facing the heat stress. We conducted tests to determine if shielding behavior was limited to bees fitting this description. Specifically, we examined the behavior in response to heat and cold stress, and recorded both stationary and moving workers on the hive wall (ventral side visible) and on the brood comb (dorsal side visible). Our observations strongly suggest that stationary bees on the brood comb shield the developing brood from both localized heat and cold stress: after temperature-stress, the number of bees under the stressor significantly increased. A uniform response from stationary bees on the hive wall, however, was not observed: stationary bee number increased significantly after heat stress but tended to decrease after cold stress. Movement of bees on both the hive wall and brood comb decreased in response to cold stress. Movement of bees on brood comb decreased after heat stress, whereas the movement of bees on the hive wall increased in response to heat stress. This latter result raises the possibility that these bees are creating currents used to dissipate the heat and/ or are absorbing heat near the source and moving it to nonsensitive areas. Our data indicate that ‘heat-shielding’, as previously defined, is a category within a broader response of honey bees to localized temperature stress: Apis mellifera appear to respond adaptively to all localized temperature stressors.

Related Organizations
  • BIP!
    Impact byBIP!
    citations
    This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    17
    popularity
    This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
    Top 10%
    influence
    This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    Average
    impulse
    This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
citations
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
17
Top 10%
Average
Average
Upload OA version
Are you the author of this publication? Upload your Open Access version to Zenodo!
It’s fast and easy, just two clicks!