Analyzing How Taste and Nutrition Impact Learning and Memory in Honey Bees Through Olfactory Associative Conditioning

Author

Alessandra Elizabeth Perry, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Date of Award

8-1-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

First Advisor

Julie A. Mustard

Second Advisor

Megan Keniry

Third Advisor

Mario Gil

Abstract

Honey bees detect sweet nectar, but not all sweet-tasting sugars provide nutrition. Unlike fruit flies, which can learn to avoid non-nutritious sweet foods, bees may lack this ability. To test if bees form caloric frustration memory (CFM), we conditioned them using odors paired with L-glucose (sweet but non-nutritious) or D-glucose (sweet and nutritious). Bees rewarded with L-glucose showed lower learning and long-term memory compared to D-glucose. Bees cannot differentiate between an odor associated with rewards containing malaise-causing compounds and an odor associated with a reward alone during differential conditioning. Therefore, we used differential conditioning to determine if lower acquisition in bees rewarded with L-glucose was from malaise. Results indicate L-glucose did not cause malaise, and unlike fruit flies experiencing CFM, no negative stimulus is associated with non-nutritious sugar in bees.

Comments

Copyright 2025 Alessandra Elizabeth Perry. All Rights Reserved. https://proquest.com/docview/3275322622

Recommended Citation

Perry, A. E. (2025). Analyzing How Taste and Nutrition Impact Learning and Memory in Honey Bees Through Olfactory Associative Conditioning [Master's thesis, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley]. ScholarWorks @ UTRGV. https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/etd/1785