We know that sea turtle hatchlings use Earth's magnetic field to navigate. Do they also use light cues from the moon to get from the sand to the ocean waves? Outline an experiment to answer this question.
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- 1. Introduction to Biology2h 42m
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- 3. Water1h 26m
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- 5. Cell Components2h 26m
- 6. The Membrane2h 31m
- 7. Energy and Metabolism2h 0m
- 8. Respiration2h 40m
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- 10. Cell Signaling59m
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- 12. Meiosis2h 0m
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- Introduction to Mendel's Experiments7m
- Genotype vs. Phenotype17m
- Punnett Squares13m
- Mendel's Experiments26m
- Mendel's Laws18m
- Monohybrid Crosses19m
- Test Crosses14m
- Dihybrid Crosses20m
- Punnett Square Probability26m
- Incomplete Dominance vs. Codominance20m
- Epistasis7m
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- Pedigrees6m
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- Introduction to Regulation of Gene Expression13m
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- The Lac Operon21m
- Glucose's Impact on Lac Operon25m
- The Trp Operon20m
- Review of the Lac Operon & Trp Operon11m
- Introduction to Eukaryotic Gene Regulation9m
- Eukaryotic Chromatin Modifications16m
- Eukaryotic Transcriptional Control22m
- Eukaryotic Post-Transcriptional Regulation28m
- Eukaryotic Post-Translational Regulation13m
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- 30. Overview of Animals34m
- 31. Invertebrates1h 2m
- 32. Vertebrates50m
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- 36. Plant Reproduction47m
- 37. Plant Sensation and Response1h 9m
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- 39. Digestive System1h 10m
- 40. Circulatory System1h 49m
- 41. Immune System1h 12m
- 42. Osmoregulation and Excretion50m
- 43. Endocrine System1h 4m
- 44. Animal Reproduction1h 2m
- 45. Nervous System1h 55m
- 46. Sensory Systems46m
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- 48. Ecology3h 11m
- Introduction to Ecology20m
- Biogeography14m
- Earth's Climate Patterns50m
- Introduction to Terrestrial Biomes10m
- Terrestrial Biomes: Near Equator13m
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- Introduction to Aquatic Biomes27m
- Freshwater Aquatic Biomes14m
- Marine Aquatic Biomes13m
- 49. Animal Behavior28m
- 50. Population Ecology3h 41m
- Introduction to Population Ecology28m
- Population Sampling Methods23m
- Life History12m
- Population Demography17m
- Factors Limiting Population Growth14m
- Introduction to Population Growth Models22m
- Linear Population Growth6m
- Exponential Population Growth29m
- Logistic Population Growth32m
- r/K Selection10m
- The Human Population22m
- 51. Community Ecology2h 46m
- Introduction to Community Ecology2m
- Introduction to Community Interactions9m
- Community Interactions: Competition (-/-)38m
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- Community Interactions: Mutualism (+/+) & Commensalism (+/0)9m
- Community Structure35m
- Community Dynamics26m
- Geographic Impact on Communities21m
- 52. Ecosystems2h 36m
- 53. Conservation Biology24m
46. Sensory Systems
Sensory System
Problem 13c
Textbook Question
Honeybees live in social groups consisting of a queen, up to several hundred male drones, and thousands of infertile female workers. The drones mate with the queen only, and the workers protect the hive, forage, and feed and groom the queen. The health of the hive depends on the female workers performing these duties instead of reproducing.
What roles do pheromones play in maintaining a functional beehive? Why might an alarm pheromone be more effective for triggering a protective response in a hive than signals that involve other senses, such as vision or hearing?

1
Understand the concept of pheromones: Pheromones are chemical signals released by an organism that affect the behavior or physiology of other members of the same species. In honeybees, pheromones are crucial for communication within the hive.
Identify the role of pheromones in honeybee social structure: The queen bee releases pheromones that inhibit the reproductive capabilities of female workers, ensuring they focus on tasks like foraging and hive maintenance rather than reproduction.
Explore the function of alarm pheromones: Alarm pheromones are released by honeybees when they perceive a threat. These pheromones quickly alert other bees to danger, prompting a collective defensive response to protect the hive.
Compare pheromones to other sensory signals: Pheromones can be more effective than visual or auditory signals because they can be detected over long distances and do not require line-of-sight or quiet conditions. They can permeate the hive and reach all members quickly.
Consider the evolutionary advantage: The use of pheromones for communication in honeybees likely evolved because it provides a reliable and efficient means of coordinating complex social behaviors, such as defense, without the limitations of other sensory modalities.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Pheromones
Pheromones are chemical signals released by an organism to affect the behavior or physiology of others of the same species. In honeybees, pheromones are crucial for communication within the hive, influencing roles such as mating, foraging, and defense. The queen releases pheromones to maintain social order and suppress worker reproduction, ensuring the hive's health and productivity.
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Alarm Pheromones
Alarm pheromones are specific chemicals released by honeybees to signal danger to the colony. These pheromones trigger a rapid and coordinated defensive response, mobilizing worker bees to protect the hive. Unlike visual or auditory signals, pheromones can quickly spread through the hive, even in darkness or crowded conditions, making them highly effective for immediate action.
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Social Structure of Honeybees
The social structure of honeybees is organized into a hierarchy with distinct roles: the queen, drones, and worker bees. Each group has specific functions, with workers responsible for foraging, hive maintenance, and defense. This structure relies on chemical communication, primarily through pheromones, to coordinate activities and maintain the hive's stability and efficiency.
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