Can bees Can bees distinguish shapes distinguish shapes

inquiryinquiryWhat is What is adaptive adaptive advantage advantage shape shape discrimination?discrimination?

•Bees cannot distinguish Bees cannot distinguish between solid shapesbetween solid shapes

•Bees cannot distinguish Bees cannot distinguish between solid shapes between solid shapes broken linesbroken lines

HypothesesHypotheses

ProtocolProtocol• Same as for colors, but place dish of Same as for colors, but place dish of

25% sugar water on shape you wish to 25% sugar water on shape you wish to test. Conduct separate test for solid test. Conduct separate test for solid and broken patterns.and broken patterns.

• Then test one solid shape among Then test one solid shape among broken patternsbroken patterns

• Conclude by testing one broken Conclude by testing one broken pattern among solid shapespattern among solid shapes

Data collectionData collection• Before collecting data, clean the glass Before collecting data, clean the glass

plate and all dishes to be certain that plate and all dishes to be certain that scent is not a factorscent is not a factor

• Return the shape grid and empty Return the shape grid and empty dishes to the original location – dishes to the original location – rearrange position of syrup filled dishrearrange position of syrup filled dish

• Count the bees that land on each Count the bees that land on each shape for 5 minutesshape for 5 minutes

• Have students repeat the experiment Have students repeat the experiment 3 for each shape they want to test3 for each shape they want to test

Reporting findingsReporting findings• Plot results for each trial as a Plot results for each trial as a

histogramhistogram• Ask students what the results Ask students what the results

suggest about their hypothesissuggest about their hypothesis• Encourage students to speculate Encourage students to speculate

about why honey bees do not need about why honey bees do not need shape vision that equals human shape vision that equals human acuity. How do honey bees acuity. How do honey bees compensate?compensate?

ConclusionsConclusions• Bees cannot distinguish between Bees cannot distinguish between

similar-sized shapes if they are all similar-sized shapes if they are all solid or all made of broken linessolid or all made of broken lines

• Bees can distinguish between Bees can distinguish between solid and broken patternssolid and broken patterns

• Bees have less visual acuity than Bees have less visual acuity than humans for recognizing shapes, humans for recognizing shapes, but they exceed human acuity in but they exceed human acuity in detecting motion, polarized light detecting motion, polarized light and ultraviolet lightand ultraviolet light