Monash University researchers have employed artificial intelligence to unravel the ancient correlation between bees and the evolution of floral colors. Published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the study utilized computer simulations to recreate landscapes of the first flowering plants from millions of years ago, assessing their visibility to pollinators such as bees and birds. Lead author Associate Professor Alan Dorin, Director of the NativeBee+Tech Facility, highlighted that bees developed visual perception well before the appearance of flowers, adapting to navigate various environments.
The research demonstrated that the initial flowers evolved vibrant colors to stand out from their dull backgrounds, enhancing their appeal to ancient pollinators. To test whether contemporary bees perceive their environment similarly to their ancestors, the researchers assessed bees’ color perception against simulated prehistoric landscapes, utilizing color spectrum measurements from the Australian bushland.
Associate Professor Adrian Dyer, a vision scientist and co-author of the study, emphasized that this research establishes a robust link, revealing how the visual perception of ancient pollinators aligns with that of present-day bees. The study indicated that modern bees possess ultraviolet (UV), blue, and green photoreceptors, explaining the prevalence of common colors like yellow in modern flowers, easily discernible by bees.
These findings provide insights into how plant species are pollinated in current times and contribute to advancements in smart agriculture. The research has the potential to inform efficient crop pollination strategies and foster further exploration in the field of floral evolution.
