L,T&C - Von Frisch's Bee Study Flashcards
What affect did the study have
This study changed the way scientists thought about animal communication.
What was the aim
To describe the dances performed by honey bees to explain how they communicate information to each other.
What was the method
Von Frisch put a food source close to the hive (within about 10–20 metres), as well as one further away (up to 300 metres).
He made over 6000 observations of honey bees over 20 years.
What were the results
Worker bees tell the others where pollen is located by two types of dance:
Round dance: Moving in a circle to indicate food is less than 100 metres away.
Waggle dance: Moving in a figure of eight, waggling its abdomen in the ‘middle’ of the eight, with this straight line pointing at the source of pollen. Speed indicates distance.
60% of bees went to food sources at the distance indicated by the dances.
What was the conclusion
Bees use a sophisticated form of animal communication.
The signalling system has evolutionary value as it helps their survival.
Evaluate the study (scientific value)
A strength is that Von Frisch’s work made an important contribution to science.
People knew that bees danced but had no understanding of the meaning of the movements.
This shows how valuable his research was.
Evaluate the study (sound matters too)
A weakness is that the importance of sound was overlooked.
When bees performed dances in silence, other bees would not then go on and investigate food sources (Esch).
This shows that sound-based signals also play a part in directing other bees – something that Von Frisch did not consider.
Evaluate the study (other factors)
Another weakness is that bees do not always respond to the waggle dance.
Bees do not use the information from the waggle dance to fly to nectar if it was placed in a boat in the middle of a lake (Gould).
This shows that Von Frisch’s account was incomplete.
