Research conducted by scientists from Newcastle University found that honey bees have a long-term memory is better after consuming caffeine. Scientists experimenting with Citrus fruit plants, as well as coffea, from which coffee beans are harvested, have been shown to contain caffeine in their nectar.
Scientists reveal that the content contained in this coffee drink (caffeine) can also affect honeybees memory. Based on testing, after consuming the caffeine, the bees have the better ability to remember the scent of flowers. The bees are also more able to remember the scent of flowers that had been mixed with caffeine until three days later.
Study leader Dr Geraldine Wright, from the University of Newcastle, said: " Remembering floral traits is difficult for bees to perform at a fast pace as they fly from flower to flower and we have found that caffeine helps the bee remember where the flowers are. In turn, bees that have fed on caffeine-laced nectar are laden with coffee pollen and these bees search for other coffee plants to find more nectar, leading to better pollination. So, caffeine in nectar is likely to improve the bee's foraging prowess while providing the plant with a more faithful pollinator."
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| There appears to be strong evidence that caffeine has an effect on learning and memory for bees. (Picture from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) |
Scientists are quite impressive in the ability of these bees, although the lifetime of this insect is only a few weeks. The findings are then published in the journal Science. Bees and other insects are important animal in the life of pollinated plants. The pollen sticks of plant that touching the insect leg could stick. Thus, when the bee flies to another plant, pollination of plants it is possible to do.
Scientists also discovered that plants use bitter and even toxic compounds to prevent from the animals suck certain tissues in plants. Some of these compounds also have a powerful effect on the mammals brain.
Co-author Professor Phil Stevenson, from the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew in London, said: "Caffeine is a defence chemical in plants and tastes bitter to many insects including bees so we were surprised to find it in the nectar. However, it occurs at a dose that's too low for the bees to taste but high enough to affect bee behaviour."
US scientist Dr Julie Mustard, from Arizona State University, who also took part in the research, said: "Although human and honeybee brains obviously have lots of differences, when you look at the level of cells, proteins and genes, human and bee brains function very similarly. Thus, we can use the honeybee to investigate how caffeine affects our own brains and behaviours." *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | THE TELEGRAPH | JAM | PIKIRAN RAKYAT 14032013]
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