DOI: 10.1126/science.1096340. Honey Bee Nest Thermoregulation: Diversity Promotes Stability

Honey Bee Nest Thermoregulation: Diversity Promotes Stability

10.1126/science.1096340

Crossref journal-article

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Science (221)

Abstract

A honey bee colony is characterized by high genetic diversity among its workers, generated by high levels of multiple mating by its queen. Few clear benefits of this genetic diversity are known. Here we show that brood nest temperatures in genetically diverse colonies (i.e., those sired by several males) tend to be more stable than in genetically uniform ones (i.e., those sired by one male). One reason this increased stability arises is because genetically determined diversity in workers' temperature response thresholds modulates the hive-ventilating behavior of individual workers, preventing excessive colony-level responses to temperature fluctuations.

Bibliography

Jones, J. C., Myerscough, M. R., Graham, S., & Oldroyd, B. P. (2004). Honey Bee Nest Thermoregulation: Diversity Promotes Stability. Science, 305(5682), 402â404.

Authors 4

Julia C. Jones (first)
Mary R. Myerscough (additional)
Sonia Graham (additional)
Benjamin P. Oldroyd (additional)

References 37 Referenced 360

10.1016/S0169-5347(97)01048-3
10.1146/annurev.ento.46.1.413
G. E. Robinson, R. E. Page, in The Genetics of Social Evolution, M. D. Breed, R. E. Page, Eds. (Westview, Boulder, CO, 1989), pp. 61–80. / The Genetics of Social Evolution (1989)
10.1098/rspb.1996.0229
10.1086/285205
10.1098/rspb.1998.0299
10.1038/380121a0
J. H. Fewell, R. E. J. Page, Evol. Ecol.1, 537 (1999). / Evol. Ecol. (1999)
10.1007/BF01929923
10.1007/s002650000183
10.1006/anbe.2002.3020
10.1007/BF00395694
R. E. Page, G. E. Robinson, N. W. Calderone, W. C. Rothenbuhler, in The Genetics of Social Evolution, M. D. Breed, R. E. Page, Eds. (Westview, Boulder, CO, 1989), pp. 15–30. / The Genetics of Social Evolution (1989)
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10.1006/hbeh.1999.1552
10.1016/S0022-1910(99)00176-6
10.1051/apido:19980109
T. D. Seeley, B. Heinrich, in Insect Thermoregulation, B. Heinrich, Ed. (Wiley, New York, 1981), pp. 159–234. / Insect Thermoregulation (1981)
T. D. Seeley Honeybee Ecology: A Study of Adaptation in Social Life (Princeton Univ. Press Princeton NJ 1985). (10.1515/9781400857876)
10.1007/BF00688889
H. H. J. Laidlaw R. E. J. Page Queen Rearing and Bee Breeding (Wicwas Cheshire CT 1997).
J. R. Harbo, in Bee Genetics and Breeding, T. E. Rinderer, Ed. (Academic Press, Orlando, FL, 1986), pp. 361–389. / Bee Genetics and Breeding (1986)
10.1016/S0092-8674(03)00509-9
10.1051/apido:2000119
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10.1051/apido:19980110
R. A. Fisher The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection (Dover New York 1958).
D. L. Hartl A. G. Clark Principles of Population Genetics (Sinauer Sunderland MA 1997).
L. Keller, H. K. Reeve, in Levels of Selection in Evolution, L. Keller, Ed. (Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, NJ, 1999), pp. 3–14. / Levels of Selection in Evolution (1999)
R. R. Sokal F. J. Rohlf Biometry: The Principles and Practice of Statistics in Biological Research (Freeman New York ed. 3 1995).
P. S. Walsh, D. A. Metzger, R. Higuchi, Biotechniques10, 506 (1991). / Biotechniques (1991)
10.1046/j.1365-2583.1999.83131.x
10.1098/rspb.1994.0133
10.1093/genetics/140.2.679
We thank M. Duncan for beekeeping assistance M. Beekman for helpful suggestions throughout the project and A. Barron and C. Baker for helpful comments on the manuscript. Supported by an Australian Research Council Grant to B.P.O. and M.R.M.

Dates

Type	When
Created	21 years, 2 months ago (June 24, 2004, 8:35 p.m.)
Deposited	1 year, 7 months ago (Jan. 9, 2024, 8:57 p.m.)
Indexed	6 days, 3 hours ago (Aug. 30, 2025, 1:05 p.m.)
Issued	21 years, 1 month ago (July 16, 2004)
Published	21 years, 1 month ago (July 16, 2004)
Published Print	21 years, 1 month ago (July 16, 2004)

Funders 0

None

BibTeX

@article{Jones_2004, title={Honey Bee Nest Thermoregulation: Diversity Promotes Stability}, volume={305}, ISSN={1095-9203}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1096340}, DOI={10.1126/science.1096340}, number={5682}, journal={Science}, publisher={American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)}, author={Jones, Julia C. and Myerscough, Mary R. and Graham, Sonia and Oldroyd, Benjamin P.}, year={2004}, month=jul, pages={402–404} }

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