Abstract
The matching behavior of honeybees in a patch of four artificial feeders was studied under two different environmental conditions in order to examine the involvement of different stimuli in the choice process. Matching fails if all nearby landmarks are removed but can, under certain conditions, be restored by subsequently introducing odors, colors, or landmarks showing that there is no unique stimulus modality that provides matching. We propose two fundamentally different memory processes, both of which affect feeding behavior and support matching. We suggest that in one case, the probability of choice is determined by the strength of direct associations between locally perceived odor stimuli and reward rates. In the second case, simultaneously perceived color stimuli predict the relative reward rates indirectly by the spatial representation of the four feeders. Both memory processes are likely to interact and lead to efficient feeding behavior during foraging under natural conditions.
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We are thankful to the referees for providing many constructive criticisms. We thank T. J. Carew, S. Fisher, M. Hammer, and R. Menzel for valuable commentary and criticism on earlier versions of the manuscript and A. Carney for essential help in preparing the English manuscript.
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Greggers, U., Mauelshagen, J. Matching behavior of honeybees in a multiple-choice situation: The differential effect of environmental stimuli on the choice process. Animal Learning & Behavior 25, 458–472 (1997). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03209852
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03209852