Can bees distinguish shapes inquiry What is adaptive advantage shape discrimination?

Bees cannot distinguish between solid shapesBees cannot distinguish between solid shapes Bees cannot distinguish between solid shapes broken linesBees cannot distinguish between solid shapes broken lines Hypotheses

Protocol Same as for colors, but place dish of 25% sugar water on shape you wish to test. Conduct separate test for solid and broken patterns.Same as for colors, but place dish of 25% sugar water on shape you wish to test. Conduct separate test for solid and broken patterns. Then test one solid shape among broken patternsThen test one solid shape among broken patterns Conclude by testing one broken pattern among solid shapesConclude by testing one broken pattern among solid shapes

Data collection Before collecting data, clean the glass plate and all dishes to be certain that scent is not a factorBefore collecting data, clean the glass plate and all dishes to be certain that scent is not a factor Return the shape grid and empty dishes to the original location – rearrange position of syrup filled dishReturn the shape grid and empty dishes to the original location – rearrange position of syrup filled dish Count the bees that land on each shape for 5 minutesCount the bees that land on each shape for 5 minutes Have students repeat the experiment 3 for each shape they want to testHave students repeat the experiment 3 for each shape they want to test

Reporting findings Plot results for each trial as a histogramPlot results for each trial as a histogram Ask students what the results suggest about their hypothesisAsk students what the results suggest about their hypothesis Encourage students to speculate about why honey bees do not need shape vision that equals human acuity. How do honey bees compensate?Encourage students to speculate about why honey bees do not need shape vision that equals human acuity. How do honey bees compensate?

Conclusions Bees cannot distinguish between similar-sized shapes if they are all solid or all made of broken linesBees cannot distinguish between similar-sized shapes if they are all solid or all made of broken lines Bees can distinguish between solid and broken patternsBees can distinguish between solid and broken patterns Bees have less visual acuity than humans for recognizing shapes, but they exceed human acuity in detecting motion, polarized light and ultraviolet lightBees have less visual acuity than humans for recognizing shapes, but they exceed human acuity in detecting motion, polarized light and ultraviolet light