Data from: Modality-specific impairment of learning by a neonicotinoid pesticide
Data files
Jul 11, 2019 version files 403.18 KB
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alldata_multimodal_to submit.xlsx
Jul 11, 2019 version files 806.35 KB
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alldata_multimodal_to submit.xlsx
Abstract
Neonicotinoid pesticides can impair bees’ ability to learn and remember information about flowers, skills that are critical for effective foraging. Although these cognitive impacts may contribute to broader effects on health and performance, to date they have largely been assayed in simplified protocols that consider learning in a single sensory modality, usually olfaction. Given that real flowers display a variety of potentially useful signals, we assessed the effects of acute neonicotinoid exposure on multimodal learning in free-flying bumblebees. We found that neonicotinoid consumption differentially impacted learning of floral stimuli, impairing scent, but not colour, learning. These findings raise questions about the mechanisms by which pesticides might differentially impair sensory systems, with implications for how neonicotinoids affect multiple aspects of bee ecology.