Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Tezin Türü: Bütünleşik Doktora
Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi, Biyolojik Bilimler Bölümü, Türkiye
Tezin Dili: İngilizce
Öğrenci: Babür Erdem
Asıl Danışman (Eş Danışmanlı Tezler İçin): Ayşe Gül Gözen
Özet:
This
thesis investigates the multifaceted effects of lithium chloride on honey bees
(Apis mellifera), focusing on locomotor activity, circadian rhythm, and
learning behaviors. Lithium is recognized for its potential as an acaricidal
agent against the Varroa mite and its well-documented use in treating
bipolar disorder in humans.
Acute
treatments revealed that lithium significantly reduced light-induced high locomotor activity but
had no effect in constant darkness. Chronic exposure similarly decreased the
high locomotor activity under constant light. Furthermore, chronic lithium
treatment disrupted circadian rhythmicity, especially under constant darkness,
while also lengthening the circadian period under constant light conditions.
The
research also developed a novel video-tracking system to assess bee learning in
an electric shock avoidance assay. This system enabled precise tracking of
individual bees and their exposure to shocks. The effect of lithium on the
learning success of honey bees, specifically affecting performance in aversive
learning accompanied by reversal learning paradigm, was investigated using an electric
shock conditioning assay. The results showed that while lithium did not affect
initial learning (acquisition phase), it impaired learning during the reversal
phase, indicating a dose-dependent reduction in adaptive behavior.
Overall,
the study advances our understanding of lithium’s multifaceted effects on honey
bee behavior and physiology. These findings have important implications for its
use in apiculture, particularly in Varroa mite control. Moreover, it
positions honey bees as a valuable non-mammalian model for studying the
behavioral effects of lithium, paralleling its role in treating bipolar disorder.
Keywords:
Honey Bee, Lithium, Locomotor Activity, Circadian Rhythm, Learning