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Bees Show Un-Bee-Lievable Learning Ability
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Source: YouTube
The ability to manipulate objects with a specific goal in mind was at one time ascribed only to humans, but not for long. Later, primates were included. Next, marine mammals. Then birds. Now we recognize that many species have this trait, and the newest ‘gang’ to join the list is Bumblebees. Researchers Olli J. Loukola, Clint J. Perry, Louie Coscos, and Lars Chittka published a scientific paper in the beginning of 2017, called ‘Bumblebees show cognitive flexibility by improving on an observed complex behavior’ and concluded that “instead of copying demonstrators moving balls over long distances, observers solved the task more efficiently, using the ball positioned closest to the target, even if it was of a different color than the one previously observed.” This suggests that entirely new behaviors could emerge relatively fast in species whose lifestyle demands learning if ecological pressures dictate so. Looks like bees aren’t going extinct anytime soon!
RELATED: Click to unmute
Source: YouTube
The ability to manipulate objects with a specific goal in mind was at one time ascribed only to humans, but not for long. Later, primates were included. Next, marine mammals. Then birds. Now we recognize that many species have this trait, and the newest ‘gang’ to join the list is Bumblebees. Researchers Olli J. Loukola, Clint J. Perry, Louie Coscos, and Lars Chittka published a scientific paper in the beginning of 2017, called ‘Bumblebees show cognitive flexibility by improving on an observed complex behavior’ and concluded that “instead of copying demonstrators moving balls over long distances, observers solved the task more efficiently, using the ball positioned closest to the target, even if it was of a different color than the one previously observed.” This suggests that entirely new behaviors could emerge relatively fast in species whose lifestyle demands learning if ecological pressures dictate so. Looks like bees aren’t going extinct anytime soon!
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What do you think ?
John L 7 years ago
Isn't it wonderful to see that the more we record the behavior of animals the more intelligent they prove to be?
LizzyM 7 years ago
And the more we record the behaviour of humans, the less intelligent they seem
Load More Replies...
Davorka Banović 7 years ago
An interesting study but the last sentence unnerves me. Bees face real dangers, mostly from humans, things they can't learn to adapt to. Especially in the USA where the race for profit is everything, bees there are weaker and more susceptible to certain diseases than in countries where bees are properly taken care of instead and left a part of their own honey during winter (not stupid sugar water that isn't healthy enough). Bees are amazing creatures, the life force of harvest and food. They must be properly taken care of, especially since cell phone signal repeaters often drive them insane or lost. Thinking they're safe from human influence only because they're capable of adapting to certain things isn't correct. It also isn't the message to spread out considering world wide pollution and the upcoming crop shortages and shifting certain crop growable areas due to global warming (there is a detailed map of this in NatGeo up to year 2100.) Anyway, protect the bees.
John L 7 years ago
Isn't it wonderful to see that the more we record the behavior of animals the more intelligent they prove to be?
LizzyM 7 years ago
And the more we record the behaviour of humans, the less intelligent they seem
Load More Replies... Davorka Banović 7 years ago
An interesting study but the last sentence unnerves me. Bees face real dangers, mostly from humans, things they can't learn to adapt to. Especially in the USA where the race for profit is everything, bees there are weaker and more susceptible to certain diseases than in countries where bees are properly taken care of instead and left a part of their own honey during winter (not stupid sugar water that isn't healthy enough). Bees are amazing creatures, the life force of harvest and food. They must be properly taken care of, especially since cell phone signal repeaters often drive them insane or lost. Thinking they're safe from human influence only because they're capable of adapting to certain things isn't correct. It also isn't the message to spread out considering world wide pollution and the upcoming crop shortages and shifting certain crop growable areas due to global warming (there is a detailed map of this in NatGeo up to year 2100.) Anyway, protect the bees.
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