Data from: Investigation of the effect of temperature and colonial air on the ontogeny of circadian rhythms in young worker honey bees Apis mellifera
Data files
Jul 07, 2025 version files 59.69 KB
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Data_25-38degree_v2.2.xlsx
8.91 KB
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Data_colony1801_1802_1901v2.6.xlsx
26.45 KB
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Data_colony2001_2002v2.5.xlsx
21.21 KB
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README.md
3.12 KB
Abstract
Circadian rhythms are essential for predicting environmental changes; however, little is known about factors regulating their ontogeny. Honey bee workers emerge from the pupae with no behavioural circadian rhythms but show strong rhythms later in their lives. Although a previous study showed that temperature in a colony plays a role in accelerating the ontogeny of circadian rhythms in young bees, it is still unknown whether there is an optimal temperature for the acceleration of the rhythm ontogeny. In the present study, we examined the influence of four different temperatures (25, 29, 34, and 38°C) for 48 h and found that as the temperature increased, more bees exhibited circadian activity rhythms for a 5 d observation period. We also examined the influence of temperature and other factors in a colony by exposing bees to air inside the hive at 34°C (a temperature nearly identical to bood nest tempearture) or 29°C. We found that regardless of whether bees were exposed to colony air, they maintained their temperature at 34°C during their first 48 h and were more likely to exhibit circadian activity rhythms during the 5 d observation period compared with bees maintained at 29°C. These results suggest that the temperature in a colony is the main factor influencing the ontogeny of circadian rhythms in young bees. We also demonstrate the presence of a critical period during which this temperature effect significantly accelerates rhythm ontogeny.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.x3ffbg7x3
Description of the data and file structure
Description of the data and file structure
These data were generated from experiments designed to examine the effect of temperature in a colony on the acceleration of circadian rhythms ontogeny in young bees.
Files and variables
File: Data_25-38degree_v2.2.xlsx
Description: Data on the percentage of rhythmic bees for Experiment 1
Variables
- Temperature: Ambient temperature during first 48 h
- Percentage: the percentage of rhythmic bees
File: Data_colony1801_1802_1901v2.6.xlsx
Description: Individual data on the strength of circadian rhythms (power) in each colony for Experiment 2
Variables
- Colony: colonyID
Group:
- forager = bees that returned to their hives with pollen loads on their hind legs
- colony 48 h = bees that kept in a field colony for their first 48 h after emergence
- colony air 34℃ = bees that were kept in an incubator at 34℃ with colonial air for their first 48 h after emergence
- colony air 29℃ = bees that were kept in an incubator at 29℃ with colonial air for their first 48 h after emergence
- 29℃ = bees that kept in an incubator at 29℃ for their first 48 h after emergence
- 34℃ = bees that kept in an incubator at 34℃ for their first 48 h after emergence
- Period: the period when the data were collected. Month/date.
- Camera: cameraID
- ID: the ID of each bee in each camera
- Power: the strength of circadian rhythms (power)
File: Data_colony2001_2002v2.5.xlsx
Description: Individual data on the strength of circadian rhythms (power) in each colony for Experiment 3
Variables
- Colony: colonyID
Group:
- Colony 48h->29℃ = bees that were kept in a field colony for their first 48 h after emergence, then monitored their locomotor activity at 29℃ for five days
- colony 48h->34℃ = bees that were kept in a field colony for their first 48 h after emergence, then monitored their locomotor activity at 34℃ for five days
- 25℃48h->29℃ = bees that were kept in an incubator at 25℃ for their first 48 h after emergence, then monitored their locomotor activity at 29℃ for five days
- 25℃48h->25℃ = bees that kwere ept in an incubator at 25℃ for their first 48 h after emergence, then monitored their locomotor activity at 25℃ for five days
- 29℃48h = bees that kwere ept in an incubator at 29℃ for their first 48 h after emergence, then monitored their locomotor activity at 29℃ for five days
- 34℃48h->29℃ = bees that kwere ept in an incubator at 34℃ for their first 48 h after emergence, then monitored their locomotor activity at 29℃ for five days
- 34℃48h->34℃ = bees that kwere ept in an incubator at 34℃ for their first 48 h after emergence, then monitored their locomotor activity at 34℃ for five days
- ID: the ID of each bee in each measurement
- Power: the strength of circadian rhythms (power)