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How bumblebees use lateral and ventral optic flow cues for position control in environments of different proximity

Linander, Nellie LU ; Baird, Emily LU and Dacke, Marie LU (2017) In Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology 203(5). p.343-351
Abstract

Flying insects frequently navigate through environments of different complexity. In this study, buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris L.) were trained to fly along tunnels of different widths, from 60 to 240 cm. In tunnel widths of 60 and 120 cm, bumblebees control their lateral position by balancing the magnitude of translational optic flow experienced in the lateral visual field of each eye. In wider tunnels, bumblebees use translational optic flow cues in the ventral visual field to control their lateral position and to steer along straight tracks. Our results also suggest that bumblebees prefer to fly over surfaces that provide strong ventral optic flow cues, rather than over featureless ones. Together, these strategies allow... (More)

Flying insects frequently navigate through environments of different complexity. In this study, buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris L.) were trained to fly along tunnels of different widths, from 60 to 240 cm. In tunnel widths of 60 and 120 cm, bumblebees control their lateral position by balancing the magnitude of translational optic flow experienced in the lateral visual field of each eye. In wider tunnels, bumblebees use translational optic flow cues in the ventral visual field to control their lateral position and to steer along straight tracks. Our results also suggest that bumblebees prefer to fly over surfaces that provide strong ventral optic flow cues, rather than over featureless ones. Together, these strategies allow bumblebees to minimize the risk of collision and to maintain relatively straight flight paths in a broad range of environments.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Bombus terrestris, Centring, Flight control, Optic flow, Position control
in
Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology
volume
203
issue
5
pages
343 - 351
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85018474566
  • pmid:28429124
  • wos:000401411400003
ISSN
0340-7594
DOI
10.1007/s00359-017-1173-9
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b5e179ad-c301-4197-95c8-3fc5be7fd5bc
date added to LUP
2017-05-19 07:48:54
date last changed
2024-01-13 21:10:49
@article{b5e179ad-c301-4197-95c8-3fc5be7fd5bc,
  abstract     = {{<p>Flying insects frequently navigate through environments of different complexity. In this study, buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris L.) were trained to fly along tunnels of different widths, from 60 to 240 cm. In tunnel widths of 60 and 120 cm, bumblebees control their lateral position by balancing the magnitude of translational optic flow experienced in the lateral visual field of each eye. In wider tunnels, bumblebees use translational optic flow cues in the ventral visual field to control their lateral position and to steer along straight tracks. Our results also suggest that bumblebees prefer to fly over surfaces that provide strong ventral optic flow cues, rather than over featureless ones. Together, these strategies allow bumblebees to minimize the risk of collision and to maintain relatively straight flight paths in a broad range of environments.</p>}},
  author       = {{Linander, Nellie and Baird, Emily and Dacke, Marie}},
  issn         = {{0340-7594}},
  keywords     = {{Bombus terrestris; Centring; Flight control; Optic flow; Position control}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{343--351}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology}},
  title        = {{How bumblebees use lateral and ventral optic flow cues for position control in environments of different proximity}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00359-017-1173-9}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00359-017-1173-9}},
  volume       = {{203}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}