Arnon Dag

Barron

Carman

Hulbert

Kalev

Nicolson

Rabie

Robinson

Sharoni Shafir

Shlomi Zarchin

Szczęsna

Tania Masci

Yael Arien

Yoshioka

Significance
          Omega-3 is an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) that most animals need to acquire in their diet. Mammalian brains are rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a long-chain form of omega-3, whose deficiency, coupled with a high omega-6:3 ratio, leads to numerous cognitive disorders and mental diseases. Insects have only trace amounts of long-chain PUFAs, and the effect of omega-3 deficiency on cognition has not been studied. We found that omega-3 deficiency greatly impaired honey bee learning, extending the finding of the importance of omega-3 to a nonmammal, despite lack of DHA in its brain. Furthermore, our analyses of pollens suggest that many managed colonies are experiencing a shift in available forage toward a higher omega-6:3 ratio, which may be leading to colony declines.</jats:p

Crossref

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Omega-3 deficiency impairs honey bee learning

Omega-3 deficiency impairs honey bee learning

Abstract

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