BumbleKey: an interactive key for the identification of bumblebees of Italy and Corsica (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Cappellari, Andree; Mei, Maurizio; Lopresti, Massimo; Cerretti, Pierfilippo

doi:10.3897/zookeys.784.25765

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The CGLS‐LC100 map was produced by the EU Earth observation program and can be accessed through the dedicated portal (Buchhorn et al, 2019; Buchhorn et al, 2020). Information about habitat preference and altitude limits of the species were retrieved from unpublished records from the Zoological Museum of the University of Rome, identified using Bumblekeys (Cappellari et al, 2018), as well as from a monograph on the biology of the species (Rasmont et al, 2021). We selected 15 land‐cover categories that are present on the land surface of Italy and compiled species‐habitat association by linking the land cover categories to the habitat requirements of the species.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We applied selected KBA criteria (A1, B1, B2 and B3, detailed in the Materials and Methods section) to 28 European bumblebees (genus Bombus Latreille, Hymenoptera: Apidae) following the methodology presented in Nania et al (2023). Although KBA criteria are supposed to be applied at least to the species rank if genetic data are unavailable, we also selected subspecies with high geographic isolation and distinct morphological features (Biella et al, 2017; Cappellari et al, 2018; Dellicour et al, 2012; Intoppa et al, 2009; Martinet et al, 2018; Rasmont et al, 2021), which represent putative separate evolving biological units of conservation interest. We assessed the presence of potential KBAs in Italy based on estimates of the global population size of each taxon inferred through the use of area of habitat (AOH) maps.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Insects as indicators of Key Biodiversity Areas

Nania,

Mei,

Pacifici

et al. 2024

Insect Conserv Diversity

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Global change is affecting insect populations worldwide as species declines have been reported from different areas of the planet. Novel approaches such as the identification of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) could detect areas of high biodiversity value for insect populations. The KBA approach relies on standardised criteria to identify important sites for biodiversity persistence. The application of such criteria to large numbers of species would significantly accelerate the KBA mapping process. A systematic application of KBA criteria has not been tested on insects, and very little is known about the efficiency and limits of such methodology. We applied four KBA criteria in Italy to 28 species/subspecies of bumblebees and identified potential KBAs for one species and three subspecies. Potential KBAs are only partially nested within current Italian KBAs and the protected areas network. When compared with potential KBAs of vertebrate species identified with the same methodology, the degree of nesting is only 12%. Our results provide evidence of a tendency of the KBA network to expand as more species are assessed, raising questions about the ability of the criteria to detect areas that truly are key for biodiversity and not just for specific taxa. We also highlight issues regarding the use of KBA criteria on insects, such as data availability and the use of subspecies. Further large‐scale assessments of KBAs will reveal the true potential of application of the KBA approach for insect conservation, and whether it actually may slow down the loss of important units of their extraordinary diversity.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insects as indicators of Key Biodiversity Areas

Nania,

Mei,

Pacifici

et al. 2024

Insect Conserv Diversity

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Rasmont et al (2021) andCappellari et al (2018). Wild bees were identi ed following Falk (2019) andMichez et al (2019).…”

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confidence: 99%

Glacier retreat erodes plant–insect interaction diversity

Tu,

Khelidj,

Cerretti

et al. 2023

Preprint

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The retreat of glaciers worldwide is causing changes in species diversity, community composition and species interactions. However, the impact of glacier retreat on interaction diversity and ecological networks remains poorly understood. An integrative understanding of network dynamics is of major importance to supporting biodiversity and ecosystem functioning after glacier extinction. Here, we address how glacier retreat affects the frequency, complexity, and diversity of plant–insect interactions, both directly and indirectly through biodiversity change. We surveyed flower visitors and analyzed visitation networks along the foreland of the Mont Miné glacier (Valais, Switzerland). As glacier retreat impacts both plant and insect communities, we observe sharp changes in the diversity of plant–insect interactions and the structure of pollination networks. We find an increase in the frequency of interactions following glacier retreat, but an ultimate decrease with glacier extinction. After controlling for the effects of floral diversity, interaction frequency showed a regular ‘universal’ pattern. Accordingly, the complexity of pollination networks and interaction diversity tends to change at constant rates with glacier retreat. Our results indicate that glacier retreat decreases biodiversity and influences the stability of ecological networks. The good news is that increasing floral diversity counteracts these impacts by increasing interaction diversity and supporting complexity. Slowing down woody encroachment and enhancing floral diversity may therefore be key strategies for halting the erosion of ecological networks while increasing biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

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Glacier retreat triggers changes in biodiversity and plant–pollinator interaction diversity

Tu,

Khelidj,

Cerretti

et al. 2024

Alp Botany

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Due to global warming, the worldwide retreat of glaciers is causing changes in species diversity, community composition, and species interactions. However, the impact of glacier retreat on interaction diversity and ecological networks remains poorly understood. An integrative understanding of network dynamics may inform conservation actions that support biodiversity and ecosystem functioning after glacier extinction. Here, we address how glacier retreat affects the frequency, diversity, and complexity of plant–pollinator interactions, both directly and indirectly through biodiversity change. We surveyed flower visitors (pollinators) and analyzed pollination networks across a gradient of 170 years of glacier retreat (Mont Miné glacier, Valais, Switzerland) which ranges from patchy grasslands to closed forests. We reported a strong impact of glacier retreat on both plant and pollinator communities. Notably, the diversity of plant–pollinator interactions was sharply affected by glacier retreat: interaction diversity increased few years after glacier retreat, but it ultimately decreased in late stages dominated by forests. In contrast, we found that plant–pollinator network complexity did not change with glacier retreat. Our results indicate that the development of plant–pollinator networks is a two-phases process. In the first phase, glacier retreat makes space to plant colonization. This initial increase in plant diversity drives the increase in pollinator and interaction diversity. The second phase is characterized by turnover as woody species encroaches and dominates the community, decreasing the diversity of plant species in ultimate instance. The local decrease of plant diversity leads to a local decrease in pollinator and interaction diversity. Slowing down woody encroachment and enhancing flower diversity, which is initially supported by the glacial landscape, may be key strategies for halting the erosion of ecological networks while increasing biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Our research thus can help resolve the overarching question of how to conserve ecosystems once glaciers are extinct, pointing toward a composite role of both habitat structure and biological functions.

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BumbleKey: an interactive key for the identification of bumblebees of Italy and Corsica (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Cited by 5 publications

References 23 publications

Insects as indicators of Key Biodiversity Areas

Insects as indicators of Key Biodiversity Areas

Glacier retreat erodes plant–insect interaction diversity

Glacier retreat triggers changes in biodiversity and plant–pollinator interaction diversity

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