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Vector integration and novel shortcutting in honeybee navigation

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Abstract

Honeybees that had been trained to visit two feeders simultaneously were released at five sites located further away from the training area. Harmonic radar tracking was used to record the complete homing flights. The bees performed multiple straight flight components (SFCs) between curved search flights. SFCs reflect vector directions between the two feeding sites and the respective vectors between the feeding sites and the hive. Direct flights back to the hive were also observed. The latter belong to a homing strategy that requires the bee to identify its location relative to the hive. We interpret these two navigation strategies as reflecting the application of a directional component of novel shortcut flights. Taken together, our findings indicate that bees apply several different directional components of vectors which are either experienced directly during flight or derived from long-distance vector integration or mapping.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The honeybees used in this study were kindly supplied by Mr. Nohr. The harmonic radar system was constructed and built by Prof. Haas and Dipl. Ing. Fischer at the Fachhochschule Emden. We are also grateful to Sabine Wintergerst for her help with the data analysis. This study is supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (grant Me 365/40-1 to R. Menzel).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Biologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin Luisestr. 28/30, 14167, Berlin, Germany

    Randolf Menzel, Konstantin Lehmann, Gisela Manz, Jacqueline Fuchs & Uwe Greggers

  2. Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften, Universität Würzburg, Biozentrum, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany

    Miriam Koblofsky

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  1. Randolf Menzel
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  2. Konstantin Lehmann
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  3. Gisela Manz
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  4. Jacqueline Fuchs
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  5. Miriam Koblofsky
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  6. Uwe Greggers
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Correspondence to Randolf Menzel.

Additional information

Manuscript editor: Bernd Grünewald

Intégration vectorielle et réduction des distances de vol dans la navigation des abeilles.

Navigation / intégration vectorielle / raccourcissement du vol / carte cognitive

Vektor Integration und kürzeste Flugstrecken bei der Navigation von Honigbienen

Navigation / Vektorintegration / kürzeste Flugroute / Kognitive Karte

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Menzel, R., Lehmann, K., Manz, G. et al. Vector integration and novel shortcutting in honeybee navigation. Apidologie 43, 229–243 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-012-0127-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-012-0127-z

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