Bumble bee nest thermoregulation: a field study

Gradišek, Anton; Bizjak, Jani; Popovski, Aleksej; Grad, Janez

doi:10.1080/00218839.2022.2164651

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Aboveground temperatures can cause wide fluctuations in nest temperature as indicated by experiments on empty nest boxes where temperatures inside can be seen to vary by as much as 24°C throughout the day ( Mullan, 2022 ). Long-term monitoring of bumblebee colonies from various species in aboveground nest boxes show that some species will have brood temperature experiencing large diurnal fluctuations while others appear to regulate it much more tightly ( Gradišek et al, 2023 ). It is also noteworthy that brood temperature reported from this study rose above 35°C.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An open container with approximately 5 L of water was placed in the chamber for the duration of the experiment; leftover water remained at the end of each trial. Many bumblebee species are known to inhabit aboveground nests, including artificial or human-made structures ( Johnson et al, 2019 ; Liczner and Colla, 2019 ), and similar artificial aboveground bumblebee nests have been shown to enable many species to successfully establish colonies in field settings ( Gradišek et al, 2023 ). No insulation was present inside the nest as it would prevent fanning observations, and although the presence of insulation within the nest reduces the cost of thermoregulation, nest temperature does not differ in similar settings ( Bretzlaff et al, 2023 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Worker bees must buffer these individuals from changes in T a by maintaining relatively stable nest temperatures (T n ) which ranges between 30°C and 33°C in bumblebees ( Barrow and Pickard, 1985 ; Vogt, 1986 ; Schultze-Motel, 1991 ; Heinrich, 2004 ). Thermal stability of the nest appears to be species-specific, however, where long-term monitoring of colonies successfully established in aboveground artificial nests in the field show a range of brood temperature across species exposed to the same environmental temperature fluctuation ( Gradišek et al, 2023 ). Nonetheless, deviation from optimal temperatures alter development of communication, olfactory senses and short-term memory in honeybees ( Tautz et al, 2003 ; Groh et al, 2004 ; Jones et al, 2005 ; Wang et al, 2016 ), as well as hinder emergence and reduce individual longevity in bumblebees ( Groh et al, 2004 ; Medrzycki et al, 2010 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Handling heatwaves: balancing thermoregulation, foraging and bumblebee colony success

Bretzlaff,

Kerr,

Darveau

2024

Conservation Physiology

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Climate changes pose risks for bumblebee populations, which have declined relative to the growing frequency and severity of warmer temperature extremes. Bumblebees might mitigate the effects of such extreme weather through colonial behaviours. In particular, fanning behaviour to dissipate heat is an important mechanism that could reduce exposure of thermally sensitive offspring to detrimental nest temperatures (Tn). The allocation of workers towards fanning over prolonged periods could impact foraging activity that is essential for colony-sustaining resource gathering. Colony maintenance and growth could suffer as a result of nutritional and high ambient temperature (Ta) thermal stress. It remains uncertain whether a compromise occurs between thermoregulation and foraging under chronic, sublethal heat events and how colony success is impacted as a result. This study held colonies of Bombus impatiens at constant high Ta (25°C, 30°C or 35°C) for 2 weeks while quantifying the percentage of foragers, fanning incidence, nest temperature (Tn) and other metrics of colony success such as the percentage of adult emergence and offspring production. We found that foraging and adult emergence were not significantly affected by Ta, but that thermoregulation was unsuccessful at maintaining Tn despite increased fanning at 35°C. Furthermore, 35°C resulted in workers abandoning the colony and fewer offspring being produced. Our findings imply that heatwave events that exceed 30°C can negatively impact colony success through failed thermoregulation and reduced workforce production.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Handling heatwaves: balancing thermoregulation, foraging and bumblebee colony success

Bretzlaff,

Kerr,

Darveau

2024

Conservation Physiology

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“…In our study, the ambient temperature was constant during the whole development, whereas, in the field, it would fluctuate and become colder during the night. In addition, some species nest under the ground, which would provide a better buffer against elevated temperatures than the plastic boxes we used in lab conditions (although ground-nesting species are not necessarily able to maintain their brood at a constant temperature under natural conditions; Gradisek et al, 2023 ). Temperature fluctuations and/or buffering could reduce the phenotypic effects we observed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elevated developmental temperatures impact the size and allometry of morphological traits of the bumblebeeBombus terrestris

Gérard

Guiraud

Cariou

et al. 2023

Journal of Experimental Biology

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The impact of global warming on wild bee decline threatens the pollination services they provide. Exposure to temperatures above optimal during development is known to reduce adult body size but how it affects the development and scaling of body parts remains unclear. In bees, a reduction in body size and/or a reduction in body parts, such as the antennae, tongue and wings, and how they scale with body size (i.e. their allometry) could severely affect their fitness. To date, it remains unclear if and how temperature affects body size and the scaling of morphological traits in bees. To address this knowledge gap, we exposed both males and workers of Bombus terrestris to elevated temperature during development and assessed the effects on (i) the size of morphological traits and (ii) the allometry between these traits. Colonies were exposed to optimal (25°C) or stressful (33°C) temperatures. We then measured the body size, wing size, antenna and tongue length, as well as the allometry between these traits. We found that workers were smaller and the antennae of both castes were reduced at the higher temperature. However, tongue length and wing size were not affected by developmental temperature. The allometric scaling of the tongue was also affected by developmental temperature. Smaller body size and antennae could impair both individual and colony fitness, by affecting foraging efficiency and, consequently, colony development. Our results encourage further exploration of how the temperature-induced changes in morphology affect functional traits and pollination efficiency.

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“…We suggest that assessment of the effects of stress at the superorganism level (i.e., colony) would help explain their plight under climate change. Conditions within nesting habitats are a rather neglected but probably important factor under conditions of heat stress, such as during heat waves (Vanderplanck et al, 2019;Martinet et al, 2021;Gradisěk et al, 2023), in constraining and adversely affecting the health and survival of bumblebees as the effects of global warming become increasingly severe. The effects of stress may be well measured by whole colony respirometry which seems to have been rarely undertaken.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermodynamics, thermal performance and climate change: temperature regimes for bumblebee (Bombus spp.) colonies as examples of superorganisms

Kevan,

Rasmont,

Martinet

2024

Front. Bee Sci.

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Evidence is widespread that many species of Bombus are in population and biogeographical decline in response to adverse effects of global climate warming. The complex interactions of the mechanisms at the root of the declines are poorly understood. Among the numerous factors, we posit that heat stress in the nests could play a key role in the decline of bumblebee species. The similarity of the optimum temperature range in incubating nests is remarkable, about 28–32 °C regardless of species from the cold High Arctic to tropical environments indicates that the optimal temperature for rearing of brood in Bombus spp. is a characteristic common to bumblebees (perhaps a synapomorphy) and with limited evolutionary plasticity. We do note that higher brood rearing temperature for the boreal and Arctic species that have been tested is stressfully high when compared with that for B. terrestris. The Thermal Neutral Zone (TNZ), temperatures over which metabolic expenditure is minimal to maintain uniform nest temperatures, has not been studied in Bombus and may differ between species and biogeographic conditions. That heat stress is more serious than chilling is illustrated by the Thermal Performance Curve Relationship (TPC) (also sometimes considered as a Thermal Tolerance Relationship). The TPC indicates that development and activity increase more slowly as conditions become warmer until reaching a plateau of the range of temperatures over which rates of activity do not change markedly. After that, activity rates decline rapidly, and death ensues. The TPC has not been studied in eusocial bees except Apis dorsata but may differ between species and biogeographic conditions. The importance of the TPC and the TNZ indicates that environmental temperatures in and around bumblebee nests (which have been rarely studied especially in the contexts of nest architecture and substrate thermal characteristics) are factors central to understanding the adverse effects of heat stress and climatic warming on bumblebee populations, health, and biogeographical decline.

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Bumble bee nest thermoregulation: a field study

Cited by 6 publications

References 16 publications

Handling heatwaves: balancing thermoregulation, foraging and bumblebee colony success

Handling heatwaves: balancing thermoregulation, foraging and bumblebee colony success

Elevated developmental temperatures impact the size and allometry of morphological traits of the bumblebeeBombus terrestris

Thermodynamics, thermal performance and climate change: temperature regimes for bumblebee (Bombus spp.) colonies as examples of superorganisms

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