@article{ScheinerLimMeixneretal.2021,
  author    = {Scheiner, Ricarda and Lim, Kayun and Meixner, Marina D. and Gabel, Martin S.},
  title     = {Comparing the appetitive learning performance of six European honeybee subspecies in a common apiary},
  series = {Insects},
  volume    = {12},
  journal   = {Insects},
  number    = {9},
  issn      = {2075-4450},
  doi       = {10.3390/insects12090768},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-245180},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {The Western honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) is one of the most widespread insects with numerous subspecies in its native range. How far adaptation to local habitats has affected the cognitive skills of the different subspecies is an intriguing question that we investigate in this study. Naturally mated queens of the following five subspecies from different parts of Europe were transferred to Southern Germany: A. m. iberiensis from Portugal, A. m. mellifera from Belgium, A. m. macedonica from Greece, A. m. ligustica from Italy, and A. m. ruttneri from Malta. We also included the local subspecies A. m. carnica in our study. New colonies were built up in a common apiary where the respective queens were introduced. Worker offspring from the different subspecies were compared in classical olfactory learning performance using the proboscis extension response. Prior to conditioning, we measured individual sucrose responsiveness to investigate whether possible differences in learning performances were due to differential responsiveness to the sugar water reward. Most subspecies did not differ in their appetitive learning performance. However, foragers of the Iberian honeybee, A. m. iberiensis, performed significantly more poorly, despite having a similar sucrose responsiveness. We discuss possible causes for the poor performance of the Iberian honeybees, which may have been shaped by adaptation to the local habitat.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{PamirSzyszkaScheineretal.2014,
  author    = {Pamir, Evren and Szyszka, Paul and Scheiner, Ricarda and Nawrot, Martin P.},
  title     = {Rapid learning dynamics in individual honeybees during classical conditioning},
  series = {Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience},
  volume    = {8},
  journal   = {Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience},
  number    = {313},
  issn      = {1662-5153},
  doi       = {10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00313},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-115365},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {Associative learning in insects has been studied extensively by a multitude of classical conditioning protocols. However, so far little emphasis has been put on the dynamics of learning in individuals. The honeybee is a well-established animal model for learning and memory. We here studied associative learning as expressed in individual behavior based on a large collection of data on olfactory classical conditioning (25 datasets, 3298 animals). We show that the group-averaged learning curve and memory retention score confound three attributes of individual learning: the ability or inability to learn a given task, the generally fast acquisition of a conditioned response (CR) in learners, and the high stability of the CR during consecutive training and memory retention trials. We reassessed the prevailing view that more training results in better memory performance and found that 24 h memory retention can be indistinguishable after single-trial and multiple-trial conditioning in individuals. We explain how inter-individual differences in learning can be accommodated within the Rescorla Wagner theory of associative learning. In both data-analysis and modeling we demonstrate how the conflict between population-level and single-animal perspectives on learning and memory can be disentangled.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ScheinerStraussThammetal.2020,
  author    = {Scheiner, Ricarda and Strauß, Sina and Thamm, Markus and Farr{\´e}-Armengol, Gerard and Junker, Robert R.},
  title     = {The bacterium Pantoea ananatis modifies behavioral responses to sugar solutions in honeybees},
  series = {Insects},
  volume    = {11},
  journal   = {Insects},
  number    = {10},
  issn      = {2075-4450},
  doi       = {10.3390/insects11100692},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-216247},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {1. Honeybees, which are among the most important pollinators globally, do not only collect pollen and nectar during foraging but may also disperse diverse microbes. Some of these can be deleterious to agricultural crops and forest trees, such as the bacterium Pantoea ananatis, an emerging pathogen in some systems. P. ananatis infections can lead to leaf blotches, die-back, bulb rot, and fruit rot. 2. We isolated P. ananatis bacteria from flowers with the aim of determining whether honeybees can sense these bacteria and if the bacteria affect behavioral responses of the bees to sugar solutions. 3. Honeybees decreased their responsiveness to different sugar solutions when these contained high concentrations of P. ananatis but were not deterred by solutions from which bacteria had been removed. This suggests that their reduced responsiveness was due to the taste of bacteria and not to the depletion of sugar in the solution or bacteria metabolites. Intriguingly, the bees appeared not to taste ecologically relevant low concentrations of bacteria. 4. Synthesis and applications. Our data suggest that honeybees may introduce P.ananatis bacteria into nectar in field-realistic densities during foraging trips and may thus affect nectar quality and plant fitness.},
  language  = {en}
}