Bumblebees, climate and glaciers across the Tibetan plateau (Apidae:<i>Bombus</i>Latreille)

Williams, Paul H.; Bystriakova, Nadia; Huang, Jiaxing; Miao, Zhengying; An, Jiandong

doi:10.1080/14772000.2014.982228

Cited by 30 publications

(35 citation statements)

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“…The index was calculated for the dataset with over 45,000 records representing collecting events and/or specimens. Williams et al (2015) identified climatic variables that were meaningful for interpreting distribution of Tibetan bumble bees. The variables were selected based on their impact on diurnal foraging activity of bumble bees and host plant availability.…”

Section: Measurements Of Species Richness and Endemismmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Key environmental determinants of global and regional richness and endemism patterns for a wild bee subfamily

et al. 2017

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Reports of world-wide decline of pollinators, and of bees in particular, raise increasing concerns about maintenance of pollination interactions. While local factors of bee decline are relatively well known and potential mitigation strategies at the landscape scale have been outlined, the regional and continental-scale threats to bee diversity have only been marginally explored. Here we document large-scale spatial patterns for a representative bee subfamily, the determinants of its species richness, and assess major threats to these pollinators. Using a comprehensive global dataset of Colletinae (genera Colletes, also called ''polyester'' or ''cellophane'' bees for their underground nests lined with a polyester secretion, and Mourecotelles), a species-rich subfamily whose organismal and physiological ecology is representative of many bees, we measured species richness and endemism on global to continental scales. We explored the relationships between bee species richness and potential environmental stress factors grouped into three categories: contemporary climate, habitat heterogeneity, and anthropogenic pressure. Bees of the subfamily Colletinae demonstrate the reversed latitudinal gradient in species richness and endemism suggested for bees; the highest species richness of Colletinae was found between 30°and 50°latitude in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Centres of endemism largely overlapped with those of species richness. The importance of the Greater Cape Floristic Region, previously identified as a centre of richness and endemism of bees, 123Biodivers Conserv (2018Conserv ( ) 27:287-309 https://doi.org/10.1007Conserv ( /s10531-017-1432 was confirmed for Colletinae. On the global scale, present-day climate was a significant predictor of species richness as was flowering plant diversity represented by vascular plant species richness and centres of plant diversity. Our main conclusion is that climate change constitutes a potential threat to bee diversity, as does declining diversity of vascular plants. However, a significant overlap between centres of bee richness and plant diversity might increase chances for developing conservation strategies.

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Section: Measurements Of Species Richness and Endemismmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…So far, global distribution data have been analyzed for only a few large and conspicuous taxa (e.g. bumble bees, Williams 1998;Williams et al 2015) that in their life history and biogeographic patterns are not representative of the majority of bees.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Key environmental determinants of global and regional richness and endemism patterns for a wild bee subfamily

et al. 2017

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“…So while bumble bees are remarkable in their ability to generate heat for activity at cold temperatures (Heinrich & Kammer, 1973), species may also have adaptations to prevent overheating (Heinrich, 1976). The role of moisture as a driver of local adaptation is less well-studied (Woodard, 2017); however, bee species ranges and activity periods can be driven more strongly by precipitation than by temperature (e.g., Jackson et al, 2018;Nicolson, 2009;Williams, Bystriakova, Huang, Miao, & An, 2015;Willmer & Stone, 1998). As temperature and precipitation vary across mountains, evidence for adaptation to these variables in widespread Bombus species will be informative for understanding climate-associated selection.…”

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Local adaptation across a complex bioclimatic landscape in two montane bumble bee species

et al. 2020

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Understanding evolutionary responses to variation in temperature and precipitation across species ranges is of fundamental interest given ongoing climate change. The importance of temperature and precipitation for multiple aspects of bumble bee (Bombus) biology, combined with large geographic ranges that expose populations to diverse environmental pressures, make these insects well‐suited for studying local adaptation. Here, we analyzed genome‐wide sequence data from two widespread bumble bees, Bombus vosnesenskii and Bombus vancouverensis, using multiple environmental association analysis methods to investigate climate adaptation across latitude and altitude. The strongest signatures of selection were observed in B. vancouverensis, but despite unique responses between species for most loci, we detected several shared responses. Genes relating to neural and neuromuscular function and ion transport were especially evident with respect to temperature variables, while genes relating to cuticle formation, tracheal and respiratory system development, and homeostasis were associated with precipitation variables. Our data thus suggest that adaptive responses for tolerating abiotic variation are likely to be complex, but that several parallels among species can emerge even for these complex traits and landscapes. Results provide the framework for future work into mechanisms of thermal and desiccation tolerance in bumble bees and a set of genomic targets that might be monitored for future conservation efforts.

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“…Fig 2). Furthermore, the known distribution ranges of the latter match more closely, being (mostly) West Himalayan species that both reach their eastern distribution limit in Arunachal Pradesh, whereas B. rufofasciatus is a widespread Himalayan and Tibetan species (Williams et al, 2015). However, most Psithyrus are to some extent flexible in their host choice and more observations, especially from breeding Psithyrus in their host nests, are necessary to confirm this suggested parasite-host association (Williams, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…A more intense survey of these areas will possibly confirm the presence of high altitude species (e.g. B. waltoni C OCKERELL , B. kashmirensis FRIESE, B. ladakhensis RICHARDS, B. keriensis MORAWITZ), that are known to occur in South-East Tibet close to the Indian border (Williams 2004, Williams et al 2015). The East Himalayan region is still vastly under-sampled and more thorough sampling is needed in the entire NER of India at the intersection between the Himalaya and the Patkai mountain range and in the mountain regions of Meghalaya, where the general occurrence of bumble bees is confirmed, but systematic surveys lack (Frison 1933, Tkalcu 1974, 1989, Williams 2004, Saini et al 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species composition and altitudinal distribution of bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus) in the East Himalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, India

Streinzer

Chakravorty

Neumayer³

et al. 2018

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20The East Himalaya is one of the world's most biodiverse ecosystems. Yet, very little is known 21 about the abundance and distribution of many plant and animal taxa in this region. Bumble 22 bees are a group of cold-adapted and high altitude insects that fulfill an important ecological 23 and economical function as pollinators of wild and agricultural flowering plants and crops. 24The Himalayan mountain range provides ample suitable habitats for bumble bees. Himalayan 25 bumble bees have been studied systematically for a few decades now, with the main focus on 26 the western region, while the eastern part of the mountain range received little attention and 27 only a few species are genuinely reported. During a three-year survey, we collected more than 28 700 bumble bee specimens of 21 species in Arunachal Pradesh, the largest of the north-29 eastern states of India. We collected a range of species that were previously known from a 30 very limited number of collected specimens, which highlights the unique character of the East 31 Himalayan ecosystem. Our results are an important first step towards a future assessment of 32 species distribution, threat and conservation. We observed clear altitudinal patterns of species 33 diversity, which open important questions about the functional adaptations that allow bumble 34 bees to thrive in this particularly moist region in the East Himalaya.35 36 Keywords 37 Conservation, Apidae, pollination, alpine habitats, global change, insect collection 39 40 Bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus LATREILLE) are a group of conspicuous, large 41 and colorful bees that mainly inhabit cold and temperate habitats at high latitudes and 42 altitudes. Their conspicuous appearance and abundance made them a prime study object of 43 many early naturalists and insect collectors. After extensive revision in the past decades, 44 around 260 species are currently recognized (Williams 1998; updated online at 45 http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/research/projects/bombus/index.html). 46 47 Current global sampling efforts focus on revising the bumble bee taxonomy at the subgenus 48 level and filling white spots in global distribution data for a worldwide IUCN red list 49 assessment of all species (iucn.org/bumblebees). The latter is urgently needed, since a number 50 of bumble bee species showed dramatic declines in their abundance and range in the recent 51 past (Cameron et al. 2011). The reasons are only partially understood and most likely involve 52 pathogen spillover from commercial breeding, and changes in agricultural practices and land 53

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Bumblebees, climate and glaciers across the Tibetan plateau (Apidae:BombusLatreille)

Cited by 30 publications

References 52 publications

Key environmental determinants of global and regional richness and endemism patterns for a wild bee subfamily

Key environmental determinants of global and regional richness and endemism patterns for a wild bee subfamily

Local adaptation across a complex bioclimatic landscape in two montane bumble bee species

Species composition and altitudinal distribution of bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus) in the East Himalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, India

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