Foraging errors play a role in resource exploration by bumble bees (Bombus terrrestris).

If the cognitive performance of animals reflects their particular ecological requirements, how can we explain appreciable variation in learning ability amongst closely related individuals (e.g. foraging workers within a bumble bee colony)? One possibility is that apparent 'errors' in a learning task actually represent an alternative foraging strategy. In this study we investigate the potential relationship between foraging 'errors' and foraging success among bumble bee (Bombus terrestris) workers. Individual foragers were trained to choose yellow, rewarded flowers and ignore blue, unrewarded flowers. We recorded the number of errors (visits to unrewarded flowers) each bee made during training, then tested them to determine how quickly they discovered a more profitable food source (either familiar blue flowers, or novel green flowers). We found that error prone bees discovered the novel food source significantly faster than accurate bees. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the time taken to discover the novel, more profitable, food source is positively correlated with foraging success. These results suggest that foraging errors are part of an 'exploration' foraging strategy, which could be advantageous in changeable foraging environments. This could explain the observed variation in learning performance amongst foragers within social insect colonies.

Morphological characteristics of pollen from triploid watermelon and its fate on stigmas in a hybrid crop production system.

Hybrid crop production is more reliant on pollinators compared to open-pollinated crops because they require cross-pollination between a male-fertile and a male-sterile line. Little is known about how stigma receipt of pollen from male-sterile genotypes affects reproduction in hybrids. Non-viable and non-compatible pollen cannot fertilise plant ovules, but may still interfere with pollination success. Here we used seedless watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai) as a model hybrid plant, to evaluate the morphology, physiology, and movement of pollen from inter-planted genotypes (diploids and triploids). We found that pollen from triploids ('Exclamation' and 'Royal Armada') and diploids ('SP-6', 'Summer Flavor 800', and 'Tiger') was visually distinguishable. Pollen in triploids had more deformities (42.4-46%), tetrads (43-44%), and abnormal growth of callose plugs in pollen tubes. The amount of pollen in triploids to germinate on stigmas was low (8 ± 3%), and few pollen grains produced pollen tubes (6.5 ± 2%). Still, contrary to previous reports our results suggest that some viable pollen grains are produced by triploid watermelons. However, whilst honey bees can collect and deposit pollen from triploids onto stigmas, its effect on hybrid watermelon reproduction is likely to be minimal due to its low germination rate.

Pollinator identity and behavior affect pollination in kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis Planch.).

Many crop plants rely on insect pollination, particularly insect-pollinated crops which are functionally dioecious. These crops require insects to move pollen between separate plants which are functionally male or female. While honey bees are typically considered the most important crop pollinator species, many other insects are known to visit crops but the pollination contribution of the full diversity of these flower visitors is poorly understood. In this study, we examine the role of diverse insect pollinators for two kiwifruit cultivars as model systems for dioecious crops: Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa 'Hayward' (a green-fleshed variety) and A. chinensis var. chinensis 'Zesy002' (a gold-fleshed variety). In our round-the-clock insect surveys, we identified that psychodid flies and mosquitoes were the second and third most frequent floral visitors after honey bees (Apis mellifera L), but further work is required to investigate their pollination efficiency. Measures of single-visit pollen deposition identified that several insects, including the bees Leioproctus spp. and Bombus spp. and the flies Helophilus hochstetteri and Eristalis tenax, deposited a similar amount of pollen on flowers as honey bees (Apis mellifera). Due to their long foraging period and high pollen deposition, we recommend the development of strategies to boost populations of Bombus spp., Eristalis tenax and other hover flies, and unmanaged bees for use as synergistic pollinators alongside honey bees.

Crisis stabilization units for jail diversion: A preliminary assessment of patient characteristics and outcomes.

Crisis stabilization units (CSUs), which offer a range of short-term psychiatric and psychological services, are one of several treatment programs that may create "alternative to arrest" options for law enforcement. Here, we examined the characteristics of the population who was referred to a newly established CSU in its first year of operation and examined the impact of the CSU on regional jail bookings. Administrative medical records and regional jail booking data were merged to form our study sample. Adults who had at least one jail booking and/or one CSU admission during our study period were included. We found that from September 1, 2018 to August 30, 2019, 458 people were admitted into the CSU. Approximately one-third (33.8%) had a jail booking during the study period. In the 3 months following CSU admission, 4.1% had an increase in jail bookings, 11.1% had a decrease, and 66.2% had no change. CSU patients self-reported high depressive and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, while also reporting low quality of life scores overall. We conclude that CSUs may be promising components of jail diversion efforts, providing critical services to populations experiencing significant mental health symptoms and who are at risk for incarceration. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Netted crop covers reduce honeybee foraging activity and colony strength in a mass flowering crop.

The widespread use of protective covers in horticulture represents a novel landscape-level change, presenting the challenges for crop pollination. Honeybees (Apis mellifera L) are pollinators of many crops, but their behavior can be affected by conditions under covers. To determine how netting crop covers can affect honeybee foraging dynamics, colony health, and pollination services, we assessed the performance of 52 nucleus honeybee colonies in five covered and six uncovered kiwifruit orchards. Colony strength was estimated pre- and postintroduction, and the foraging of individual bees (including pollen, nectar, and naïve foragers) was monitored in a subset of the hives fitted with RFID readers. Simultaneously, we evaluated pollination effectiveness by measuring flower visitation rates and the number of seeds produced after single honeybee visits. Honeybee colonies under cover exhibited both an acute loss of foragers and changes in the behavior of successful foragers. Under cover, bees were roughly three times less likely to return after their first trip outside the hive. Consequently, the number of adult bees in hives declined at a faster rate in these orchards, with colonies losing on average 1,057 ± 274 of their bees in under two weeks. Bees that did forage under cover completed fewer trips provisioning their colony, failing to reenter after a few short-duration trips. These effects are likely to have implications for colony health and productivity. We also found that bee density (bees/thousand flowers) and visitation rates to flowers were lower under cover; however, we did not detect a resultant change in pollination. Our findings highlight the need for environment-specific management techniques for pollinators. Improving honeybee orientation under covers and increasing our understanding of the effects of covers on bee nutrition and brood rearing should be primary objectives for maintaining colonies and potentially improving pollination in these systems.

Expert ratings on the critical ingredients of supported employment for people with severe mental illness.

BACKGROUND: Supported employment is identified as an evidence-based practice for people with severe mental illness, with Individual Placement and Support (IPS) emerging as the clearest articulation of this practice. Yet throughout the U.S., programs labeled as supported employment operate in a wide variety of ways, with different staffing patterns, organizational features, and services. Consensus on critical ingredients is crucial for establishing standards for evidence-based services, guiding implementation of new programs, and fostering communication in the literature. The current study examined the degree of agreement on the critical ingredients of supported employment among experts and practitioners. METHODS: The expert sample (n=19) consisted primarily of university-based researchers, while the practitioner sample (n=55) was a convenience sample generated from lists provided by state leaders in 2 Western, 2 Central, and 2 Eastern states. Using multiple sources, including published guidelines and 3 supported employment fidelity scales, we developed a 59-item survey checklist. Respondents rated items on a 7-point importance scale and indicated ideal specifications in 11 areas. FINDINGS: We found strong agreement on the critical ingredients of supported employment within the expert and practitioner groups. On most items, the two groups had similar mean ratings of importance. Experts rated 4 items reflecting evidence-based principles and 2 items related to outcome monitoring as more important than did practitioners, while practitioners rated as more important 10 items reflecting pragmatic concerns (e.g., funding, accreditation). Comparing survey responses on the 15 items from the IPS Fidelity Scale suggested general endorsement of IPS principles, except in the area of staffing. Ideal model specifications included caseload size of 16 and twice weekly supervision. Respondents also suggested critical ingredients not measured by the IPS Fidelity Scale, such as benefits counseling, supported education, a cultivation of employers. CONCLUSIONS: This survey shows a growing consensus within the psychiatric rehabilitation field on IPS principles while suggesting additional strategies endorsed by experts and practitioners.

Fast learning in free-foraging bumble bees is negatively correlated with lifetime resource collection.

Despite widespread interest in the potential adaptive value of individual differences in cognition, few studies have attempted to address the question of how variation in learning and memory impacts their performance in natural environments. Using a novel split-colony experimental design we evaluated visual learning performance of foraging naïve bumble bees (Bombus terrestris) in an ecologically relevant associative learning task under controlled laboratory conditions, before monitoring the lifetime foraging performance of the same individual bees in the field. We found appreciable variation among the 85 workers tested in both their learning and foraging performance, which was not predicted by colony membership. However, rather than finding that foragers benefited from enhanced learning performance, we found that fast and slow learners collected food at comparable rates and completed a similar number of foraging bouts per day in the field. Furthermore, bees with better learning abilities foraged for fewer days; suggesting a cost of enhanced learning performance in the wild. As a result, slower learning individuals collected more resources for their colony over the course of their foraging career. These results demonstrate that enhanced cognitive traits are not necessarily beneficial to the foraging performance of individuals or colonies in all environments.

Changes in learning and foraging behaviour within developing bumble bee (Bombus terrestris) colonies.

Organisation in eusocial insect colonies emerges from the decisions and actions of its individual members. In turn, these decisions and actions are influenced by the individual's behaviour (or temperament). Although there is variation in the behaviour of individuals within a colony, we know surprisingly little about how (or indeed if) the types of behaviour present in a colony change over time. Here, for the first time, we assessed potential changes in the behavioural type of foragers during colony development. Using an ecologically relevant foraging task, we measured the decision speed and learning ability of bumble bees (Bombus terrestris) at different stages of colony development. We determined whether individuals that forage early in the colony life cycle (the queen and early emerging workers) behaved differently from workers that emerge and forage at the end of colony development. Whilst we found no overall change in the foraging behaviour of workers with colony development, there were strong differences in foraging behaviour between queens and their workers. Queens appeared to forage more cautiously than their workers and were also quicker to learn. These behaviours could allow queens to maximise their nectar collecting efficiency whilst avoiding predation. Because the foundress queen is crucial to the survival and success of a bumble bee colony, more efficient foraging behaviour in queens may have strong adaptive value.

Barriers to assessment and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder and other trauma-related problems in people with severe mental illness: clinician perspectives.

We conducted a state-wide survey of 251 clinicians serving people with severe mental illness (SMI) in community support programs, to identify barriers to the diagnosis and treatment of PTSD and other trauma-related problems. Most clinicians did not feel competent to effectively treat these problems. Competence/confidence and belief in utility of intervention were positively related to the percentage of clients with whom trauma and PTSD had been discussed, documented in charts, and addressed directly in treatment. Clinicians need training that develops skills and knowledge as well as conveys the value of addressing PTSD and other trauma-related problems in people with SMI.