Data and R Code for: Shifting expectations? Bumblebees show limited adjustment based on recent reward history

Here, we investigated whether bees use reference-based evaluation to assess nectar reliability. We trained one group of bees on highly rewarding flowers and then reduced nectar availability to measure behavioral responses. When compared to a group that received lower rates throughout, these downshifted bees showed minimal disruption in preferences for previously trained flowers in response to reductions in reward reliability. We argue that bees may get fundamentally different information from changes in nectar concentration and reliability.

本研究旨在探究蜜蜂是否会采用基于参照的评估（reference-based evaluation）方式来评估花蜜的可靠性。我们先以高花蜜回报的花朵为奖励源训练一组蜜蜂，随后降低其花蜜供给量，以此观测其行为反应。与全程均接受较低花蜜供给的对照组相比，该花蜜供给下调组的蜜蜂在面对回报可靠性下降时，对先前训练花朵的偏好仅出现极微弱的干扰。我们认为，蜜蜂或许能从花蜜浓度与可靠性的变化中获取本质上截然不同的信息。