Covering a wide variety of subjects, from asteroids to bees to solar power and tree snakes, this fascinating compendium of easy-to-understand explanations of the mysteries of natural science presents a full-color cornucopia of information about the world and its wonders. 1,000 illustrations.
How honeybees make collective decisions—and what we can learn from this amazing democratic process Honeybees make decisions collectively—and democratically. Every year, faced with the life-or-death problem of choosing and traveling to a new home, honeybees stake everything on a process that includes collective fact-finding, vigorous debate, and consensus building. In fact, as world-renowned animal behaviorist Thomas Seeley reveals, these incredible insects have much to teach us when it comes to collective wisdom and effective decision making. A remarkable and richly illustrated account of scientific discovery, Honeybee Democracy brings together, for the first time, decades of Seeley's pioneering research to tell the amazing story of house hunting and democratic debate among the honeybees. In the late spring and early summer, as a bee colony becomes overcrowded, a third of the hive stays behind and rears a new queen, while a swarm of thousands departs with the old queen to produce a daughter colony. Seeley describes how these bees evaluate potential nest sites, advertise their discoveries to one another, engage in open deliberation, choose a final site, and navigate together—as a swirling cloud of bees—to their new home. Seeley investigates how evolution has honed the decision-making methods of honeybees over millions of years, and he considers similarities between the ways that bee swarms and primate brains process information. He concludes that what works well for bees can also work well for people: any decision-making group should consist of individuals with shared interests and mutual respect, a leader's influence should be minimized, debate should be relied upon, diverse solutions should be sought, and the majority should be counted on for a dependable resolution. An impressive exploration of animal behavior, Honeybee Democracy shows that decision-making groups, whether honeybee or human, can be smarter than even the smartest individuals in them.
In Bee Dance, follow a foraging honeybee as she searches for food and returns to the hive to share the news in a honeybee dance! A honeybee searches for nectar, then returns to the hive to tell the other bees. She does a waggle dance, moving in a special figure-eight pattern to share the location of the foodsource with her hivemates. With vivid and active images, Rick Chrustowski brings these amazing bees to life!
Seeley, a world authority on honey bees, sheds light on why wild honey bees are still thriving while those living in managed colonies are in crisis. Drawing on the latest science as well as insights from his own pioneering fieldwork, he describes in extraordinary detail how honey bees live in nature and shows how this differs significantly from their lives under the management of beekeepers. Seeley presents an entirely new approach to beekeeping--Darwinian Beekeeping--which enables honey bees to use the toolkit of survival skills their species has acquired over the past thirty million years, and to evolve solutions to the new challenges they face today. He shows beekeepers how to use the principles of natural selection to guide their practices, and he offers a new vision of how beekeeping can better align with the natural habits of honey bees.
This book describes and illustrates the results of more than fifteen years of elegant experimental studies conducted by the author to investigate how a colony of bees is organized to gather its resources. The results of his research--including studies of the shaking signal, tremble dance, and waggle dance--offer the clearest, most detailed picture available of how a highly integrated animal society works.
Karl von Frisch, in January 1946, deciphered the dancing language of honeybees. Over the previous summer, he had discovered that the bees communicate the distance and direction of food sources by means of the dances they run upon returning from foraging flights. The news of the discovery, which led later to a Nobel Prize, quickly spread across Europe and beyond. The Dancing Bees is a dual biography on the one hand of von Frisch as one of the most innovative and successful scientists of the twentieth century and, on the other, of his honeybees as experimental and especially communicating animals that play a rich role in human culture."
From ancient cave paintings of honey bee nests to modern science’s richly diversified investigation of honey bee biology and its applications, the human imagination has long been captivated by the mysterious and highly sophisticated behavior of this paragon among insect societies. In the first broad treatment of honey bee biology to appear in decades, Mark Winston provides rare access to the world of this extraordinary insect. In a bright and engaging style, Winston probes the dynamics of the honey bee’s social organization. He recreates for us the complex infrastructure of the nest, describes the highly specialized behavior of workers, queens, and drones, and examines in detail the remarkable ability of the honey bee colony to regulate its functions according to events within and outside the nest. Winston integrates into his discussion the results of recent studies, bringing into sharp focus topics of current bee research. These include the exquisite architecture of the nest and its relation to bee physiology; the intricate division of labor and the relevance of a temporal caste structure to efficient functioning of the colony; and, finally, the life-death struggles of swarming, supersedure, and mating that mark the reproductive cycle of the honey bee. The Biology of the Honey Bee not only reviews the basic aspects of social behavior, ecology, anatomy, physiology, and genetics, it also summarizes major controversies in contemporary honey bee research, such as the importance of kin recognition in the evolution of social behavior and the role of the well-known dance language in honey bee communication. Thorough, well-illustrated, and lucidly written, this book will for many years be a valuable resource for scholars, students, and beekeepers alike.
**Buzzing Nature's Wonders The Untold Story of Bees** Welcome to the captivating world of bees, where every buzz tells a fascinating story. "Buzzing Nature's Wonders" is your ultimate guide to unraveling the mysteries of one of the most essential creatures in our ecosystem. This eBook takes you on an enlightening journey from the mesmerizing diversity of bees to their pivotal role in human survival. Discover bees like never before in **Chapter 1 Introduction to Bees**, where intriguing myths are debunked, and you'll gain insight into the rich history of these small yet mighty insects. Delve deeper into **Chapter 2 Bee Anatomy and Physiology**, exploring their intricate structures and remarkable survival adaptations. Explore the hive's complex social structure in **Chapter 3**, understanding the vital roles and communication methods that keep the colony thriving, while **Chapter 4** unveils the fascinating lifecycle and seasonal behaviors of bees. In **Chapter 5**, the foraging behavior of bees is laid bare, highlighting their incredible ability to locate flowers and execute the mechanics of pollination. This leads seamlessly into **Chapter 6 The Importance of Pollination**, emphasizing the critical contributions of bees to agriculture and the overall economy. Unfortunately, bees face numerous threats. **Chapter 7** addresses the various challenges to bee populations, from pesticides and habitat loss to climate change and diseases. These threats have far-reaching consequences outlined in **Chapter 8**, impacting plants, crops, and other wildlife. But there's hope. **Chapter 9** explores modern beekeeping practices and conservation efforts, from urban beekeeping to large-scale programs. Learn how to make your environment bee-friendly in **Chapter 10**, with practical tips for planting pollinator gardens and providing safe habitats. Become an advocate for bees with insights from **Chapter 11**, teaching and engaging communities, and dive into the technological innovations in bee conservation presented in **Chapter 12**. Gain a global perspective with **Chapter 13**, showcasing international efforts and cultural significances. Be inspired by **Chapter 14’s** success stories and find personal ways to contribute in **Chapter 15**. Finally, look towards the future in **Chapter 16**, projecting hopeful trends and solutions for sustainable bee populations. Reflect on these revelations and be motivated to provoke change in **Chapter 17**, with a plethora of additional resources in **Chapter 18** for further learning. Embrace the buzz and contribute to a brighter future for our pollinating partners. **"Buzzing Nature's Wonders"** is more than a book; it’s a call to action.