Journal article
An Equilibrium Theory of Queen Production in Honeybee Colonies Preparing to Swarm
Behavioral ecology and sociobiology, v 13(3), pp 221-228
01 Jan 1983
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
An equilibrium model is developed which seeks to explain the regulation of queen rearing in honeybee colonies preparing to swarm. The model postulates that there is a balance between nurse bees becoming inhibited from queen rearing and nurses losing their inhibition, and that whether a colony does or does not rear queens reflects the equilibrium percentage of inhibited nurses. This model leads to a quantitative prediction about the size of a colony's nurse population at which queen rearing should start. Comparing the model's predictions with empirical observations pinpoints data needed for a more complete explanation of control of queen rearing. In particular, the model suggests a central regulatory role for density-dependent changes in the behaviours involved in queen substance dispersal.
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Details
- Title
- An Equilibrium Theory of Queen Production in Honeybee Colonies Preparing to Swarm
- Creators
- Douglas H. Baird - Drexel University, Intensive Medical Sciences (IMS)Thomas D. Seeley - Yale University
- Publication Details
- Behavioral ecology and sociobiology, v 13(3), pp 221-228
- Publisher
- Springer
- Number of pages
- 8
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Neurobiology and Anatomy; Intensive Medical Sciences (IMS)
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:A1983RL87000008
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-33644549917
- Other Identifier
- 991022048720404721
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Behavioral Sciences
- Ecology
- Zoology