--- Dave Cushman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Joe writes:
>  > You may be mistaken here, there is a correlation
>  > between body color and the rate of heat
> absorbtion.

Dave Replies:
> Heat absorbtion rate is a consequence of body
> colour, not a cause of it.


Hi Dave,

The definition of correlation is:
1 : the state or relation of being correlated;
specifically : a relation existing between phenomena
or things or between mathematical or statistical
variables which tend to vary, be associated, or occur
together in a way not expected on the basis of chance
alone.

For example:
Bee wing length is linearly correlated with body size
(Kimsey 1982)
We  know that wing length is NOT the cause of the bees
size, only that wing length is correlated with bee
size.  Correlation does not need to be a cause of
something, only that a association can be identified
between them that would not be expected to occur by
chance alone. 

Therefore,  color of a bee can be directly correlated
with heat absorption without being the cause of bee
color.  

Bee color may also be correlated with low temperature
flying and may have an impact on frequency of  drone
mating success in higher altitudes and northerly
latitudes where there would be selective pressure
towards cool weather flying.  So many things can be
correlated with the body color of a bee.  And in a
round about way, will cause a darker bee to evolve in
areas where the selective pressure exists for this.

Best Wishes,
JW  



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