91Ó°ÊÓ

A honey bee colony contains one queen, hundreds of drones, and many thousands of worker bees. The queen produces eggs, the drones produce sperm, and the workers are sterile. Explain how the reproductive strategy of honey bees benefits the survival of the species. (credit: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) a. The fertile queen and drones produce many offspring while sterile worker bees do not benefit the survival of the species. b. Worker bees produce many offspring while the sterile queen and drones do not benefit the survival of the species. c. The sterile queen and drones use the energy taken in by them for their own growth, growth and maintenance of the hive, and protection and nurturing of offspring. d. Sterile worker bees use the energy taken in by them for their own growth, growth and maintenance of the hive, and protection and nurturing of offspring.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Roles

Identify the roles within the honey bee colony: the queen, drones, and worker bees. The queen produces eggs, drones produce sperm, and worker bees are sterile.

02

Analyze the Reproductive Strategy

Consider how each role contributes to the colony's survival. The queen and drones are directly involved in reproduction, while worker bees support the colony by maintaining the hive and protecting the offspring.

03

Evaluate the Contributions

Recognize that sterile worker bees do not contribute to reproduction but play a critical role in the survival and efficiency of the hive. Their energy is focused on tasks like gathering food, building the hive, and caring for larvae, which benefits the entire colony.

04

Conclude the Correct Option

Based on the analysis, determine that option (d) is correct. The sterile worker bees use their energy to maintain the hive and support the colony, ensuring the survival of the species.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

• Full Textbook Solutions

  Get detailed explanations and key concepts

• Unlimited Al creation

  Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

• Ads-free access

  To over 500 millions flashcards

• Money-back guarantee

  We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

queen bee role

In a honey bee colony, the queen bee plays a crucial and unique role. Her primary function is reproduction. She is the only fertilized female capable of producing eggs. A queen can lay thousands of eggs during her lifetime, which ensures the ongoing population growth and sustainability of the hive.
This continuous egg-laying replenishes the colony with new bees, replacing those that die off. In essence, the queen bee acts as the colony's mother, providing a constant supply of new worker bees and potential new queens.
Her pheromones also help maintain social order within the hive, preventing worker bees from laying eggs and ensuring a cohesive, efficient working environment.
Therefore, the queen's reproductive capabilities and pheromonal control are vital for the hive's survival and species continuity.

drone bee role

Drone bees are the male members of the colony. Their sole purpose is to mate with a queen from another hive. Drones do not have stingers, cannot gather nectar or pollen, and do not perform maintenance tasks.
After mating, drones usually die as a result of the process, ensuring that the queen has a supply of sperm to fertilize her eggs. By mating with queens from other colonies, drones promote genetic diversity, which is essential for the resilience and adaptability of honeybee species.
Although drones are fewer in number compared to worker bees, their contribution to the genetic health of the species is substantial. This reproductive strategy helps in spreading beneficial genes across different colonies, increasing the overall survival rate of honey bees.

worker bee role

Worker bees are the unsung heroes of the honey bee colony. These sterile females perform all the non-reproductive tasks necessary to keep the hive functioning smoothly.
Workers are responsible for foraging for nectar and pollen, producing honey, building and repairing the hive, and caring for the queen's eggs.
They also maintain the internal environment of the hive, regulating temperature and humidity, and defending it from intruders.
Without the diligent work of the worker bees, the hive would not be able to sustain itself, let alone thrive. Their dedication ensures that the queen and drones can focus entirely on their reproductive roles. In summary, worker bees, although sterile, are pivotal in maintaining the hive and supporting the queen's reproductive duties, leading to the survival of the colony.

hive maintenance

Hive maintenance is a daily and essential activity within a honey bee colony. Worker bees take care of numerous tasks to ensure the hive remains in optimal condition.
These duties include cleaning cells, removing debris and dead bees, and creating wax combs for storing honey and pollen.
Additionally, workers construct new cells to accommodate the growing population, ventilate the hive to regulate temperature and humidity, and guard the entrances against predators and other threats.
Proper hive maintenance ensures that the colony remains a healthy environment for raising new bees and sustaining adult bees. This diligent upkeep by the worker bees directly contributes to the efficiency and survival of the hive, making it a safe and productive habitat.

species survival

The reproductive strategy of honey bees plays a critical role in the survival of their species. By designating specific roles—queen bee for egg-laying, drone bees for mating, and worker bees for all other tasks—the hive functions as a highly efficient unit.
This specialization allows each bee to focus on their strengths, leading to higher productivity and better resource management.
Worker bees' efforts in hive maintenance and protection increase the chances of raising healthy new generations of bees. Genetic diversity promoted by drone bees through mating with queens from other hives ensures a robust gene pool that can adapt to environmental changes.
The queen's continuous egg production ensures the sustainability of the hive population. These combined efforts create a resilient colony capable of overcoming challenges and ensuring the continuity of the species.