The effects of ingested aqueous aluminum on floral fidelity and foraging strategy in honey bees (Apis mellifera)
- Chicas-Mosier, Ana M.
- Cooper, Bree A.
- Melendez, Alexander M.
- Perez, Melina
- Oskay, Devrim
- Abramson, Charles I.
DOIAbstract
Pollinator decline is of international concern because of the economic services these organisms provide. Commonly cited sources of decline are toxicants, habitat fragmentation, and parasites. Toxicant exposure can occur through uptake and distribution from plant tissues and resources such as pollen and nectar. Metals such as aluminum can be distributed to pollinators and other herbivores through this route especially in acidified or mined areas. A free-flying artificial flower patch apparatus was used to understand how two concentrations of aluminum (2 mg/L and 20 mg/L) may affect the learning, orientation, and foraging behaviors of honey bees (Apis mellifera) in Turkey. The results show that a single dose of aluminum immediately affects th...