Presentation Details
| Hot or not: Decoding the molecular and behavioral secrets of hive thermoregulation Megha Majoe, Kerrigan Tobin, Chelsea Cook. Marquette University, Milwaukee, WISCONSIN, USA |
Abstract
Social insects like the Western honeybee (Apis mellifera) thrive in diverse environments, thanks to task-partitioning and adaptive worker responses ensuring colony survival. When ambient temperatures rise, middle-aged workers cluster at hive entrances to perform thermoregulatory fanning. This is a critical but understudied behavior maintaining brood at a stable ~35°C, ideal for development. Our study investigates how honeybees detect temperature changes to trigger fanning. We focused on AmHsTRPA, a gated ion channel linked to chemo/thermosensation. We first ascertained tissue-specific expression of the gene AmHsTRPA in fanners via RT-qPCR. This will inform in-vivo functional testing of the gene in honeybees. Secondly, we used behavioral assays to test the role of sensory organs in receiving direct temperature cues and indirect social cues affecting fanning. Our findings reveal how honeybees perceive their rich environments. By identifying these mechanisms, we shed light on how pollinators, facing escalating human-induced thermal and chemical stressors, adapt to a changing world. Ultimately, we use different approaches to gain insights into resilience in fragile ecosystems.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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