When the bees entered the adult foraging stage, researchers found that the bees raised under the lowest controlled temperature were poor dancers, will lesser capabilities to communicate food locations to other foragers. Additionally, they suffered from a learning disability. After two weeks of foraging, the majority of the bees abandoned the hive, either going to other hives in the area, or disappearing without researcher knowledge of their whereabouts.
Based on those facts, an initial hypothesis that increased temperatures from global warming would help produce better dancing and learning honey bees sounds credible. However, before taking that hypothetical leap, two additional facts on honey bee behavior need to be considered.
First, the researchers state that, "honey bees appear to be the only group that have achieved a high degree of homeothermy in their nests, keeping the brood combs at temperatures which, although never constant, vary within a relatively narrow window of 3oC."
Second, the researchers state that, "First, the 40% investment in maintaining the brood temperature is a significant portion of the energy budget and attests to the importance of this activity."
Given those sets of facts, the researchers conclude, "We propose that when outside temperatures are high, fewer heater bees will be needed and a larger number of successful foragers will be produced by the higher temperature in the brood."
Do those facts and conclusions strengthen the hypothesis that global warming will help honey bees dance?
Yes and no. At face value, the experiment, and conclusions drawn from them, supports the hypothesis that global warming helps honey bees dance. Warmer weather means that more worker bees can devote their time to foraging rather than heating the hive. Warmer temperatures also suggest a greater probability of warmer hives, although that is not completely clear, given the fact that hive temperatures can swing in a +/- 3oC range when dealing with outside temperatures.
The researchers do not address how global warming or rising temperatures might affect the honey bee food supply. Honey bees have complex dietary needs. If the temperature changes caused by global warming affect the landscape of a honey bee's territory, those changes may be harmful to honey bee health. In the end, warmer temperatures may help improve honeybee dancing, but communication inherent in those dances may well signal a flight of the honey bees to a more accommodating environment.