Unveiling cryptic species of the bumblebee subgenus<i>Bombus s. str.</i>worldwide with COI barcodes (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Williams, Paul H.; Brown, Mark J. F.; Carolan, James C.; An, Jiandong; Goulson, Dave; Aytekin, A. Murat; Best, Lincoln; Byvaltsev, Alexandr; Cederberg, Björn; Dawson, Robert J. G.; Huang, Jiaxing; Ito, Masao; Monfared, Alireza; Raina, Rifat H.; Schmid‐Hempel, Paul; Sheffield, Cory S.; Šima, Peter; Xie, Zhenwei

doi:10.1080/14772000.2012.664574

Cited by 148 publications

(164 citation statements)

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“…B. magnus and B. cryptarum have been regarded as subspecies of B. lucorum and are often referred to collectively as the 'lucorum complex' or simply synonymized to B. lucorum (Benton, 2006;Edwards and Jenner, 2005). Recent studies using CO1 barcode analysis show discrete differences between the three species Murray et al, 2008;Williams et al, 2012), in accordance with studies of labial gland secretions (Bertsch et al, 2005). Diagnostic morphological characters have also been previously reported for queens, but some of these have now been demonstrated to overlap considerably, and vary along a continuum, thus making them unreliable and leading to a high potential for misidentification .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…As a consequence, descriptions of the ecology and distribution of these three species, obtained prior to the utilisation of molecular methods for species identification, are likely to be problematic (see Rasmont, 1984;Rasmont et al, 1986 andPamilo et al, 1997 for European distributions). Therefore, the only reliable information available about the worldwide distributions of these species comes from a study by Williams et al (2012) of the subgenus Bombus s. str. They find B. lucorum to be present from Iceland in the west, across Europe to the mountains of Central Asia and in Mongolia.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They were consequently absent from much of the south and east of England. Heathland habitats were sampled in this area but B. magnus was not found to be present (though Williams et al, 2012 report a specimen from the heathland of Dungeness in the South East of England). It may be that these sites are too warm, or that B. magnus used to occur there in the past when the heathland area was larger and less fragmented.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cryptic species can be defined as two or more distinct species that are similar or identical in morphology (Williams et al, 2012). Speciation is not always accompanied by morphological change, and as a result, the true number of biological species is likely to be greater than the current total of nominal species, most http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2014.11.027 0006-3207/Ó 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Revealing the hidden niches of cryptic bumblebees in Great Britain: Implications for conservation

Scriven

Woodall

Tinsley

et al. 2015

Biological Conservation

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a b s t r a c tBumblebees are ecologically and economically important, and some species have suffered dramatic population declines. The absence of morphological diagnostic characters for the identification of some species creates difficulties for basic ecological studies, and for conservation management. The widespread and commercially exploited bumblebee subgenus Bombus sensu stricto contains a cryptic species complex, known as the lucorum complex, which in Europe comprises B. lucorum, B. cryptarum and B. magnus. Little is known about these species and much of what has been reported is likely to have suffered from incorrect identification. Although the lucorum complex as a whole is common in Great Britain, we aimed to determine whether the populations of the individual species are vulnerable and require conservation action. Using genetic methods to distinguish them, we determined the geographic distribution and abundance of the lucorum complex species in Great Britain, and assessed the extent of niche differentiation between these species. We detected major differences in the geographic range, forage use and sensitivity to summer temperatures of the three species. Bombus lucorum was found to have the broadest distribution and diet, being present throughout mainland Great Britain, whereas B. cryptarum and B. magnus were absent from large areas of central and southern England. Bombus cryptarum and B. magnus were more likely to be found at sites with lower summer temperatures. Bombus magnus, the least abundant species, was found to exhibit an unusually tight biotope association with heathland habitat. This has conservation implications for B. magnus given the current threats to this habitat type.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Revealing the hidden niches of cryptic bumblebees in Great Britain: Implications for conservation

Scriven

Woodall

Tinsley

et al. 2015

Biological Conservation

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“…For animals in general, this method is based on the sequencing of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome C oxidase I (COI ) region. Recent works have employed this molecular method with success in the identification of a great variety of taxa, including the genus Bombus (Murray et al 2008;Williams et al 2011Williams et al , 2012. Nevertheless, subsequent to an initial DNA barcoding, an integrative approach using multilocus analysis and traditional taxonomy is still necessary for species delimitation accuracy (Sites and Marshall 2004;Collins and Cruickshank 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An integrative approach identifies a new species of bumblebee (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombini) from northeastern Brazil

2015

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-Here, we describe a new species of genus Bombus Latreille, 1802 from northeastern Brazil, Bombus (Thoracobombus ) applanatus Oliveira, Françoso & Arias, sp. nov. Molecular analysis was initially performed to confirm the new species placement within the genus Bombus . Afterward, we performed an integrative approach combining molecular data (DNA barcoding and two nuclear regions) and morphology to confirm its taxonomic status. The genetic and morphological data were very consistent and congruent supporting this group as a new species. B . (Thoracobombus ) applanatus Oliveira, Françoso & Arias, sp. nov. has the body totally covered by black pilosity and can be distinguished from closer and/or sympatric species by clypeus shape, which has a distinct flattened dorsal platform, by length of malar area and the length and shape of the hairs, shorter and aligned as if it was trimmed. In addition, brief taxonomic notes on Bombus (Thoracobombus ) brevivillus Franklin (1913) and Bombus (Thoracobombus ) morio Swederus (1787), the sympatric species, are provided. A key for identification of Brazilian Bombus species, including the new species, was elaborated.Bumblebee / Bombus sp. nov. / DNA barcoding / nuclear markers / traditional taxonomy

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Niche partitioning in a sympatric cryptic species complex

Scriven

Whitehorn

Goulson

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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Competition theory states that multiple species should not be able to occupy the same niche indefinitely. Morphologically, similar species are expected to be ecologically alike and exhibit little niche differentiation, which makes it difficult to explain the co‐occurrence of cryptic species. Here, we investigated interspecific niche differentiation within a complex of cryptic bumblebee species that co‐occur extensively in the United Kingdom. We compared the interspecific variation along different niche dimensions, to determine how they partition a niche to avoid competitive exclusion. We studied the species B. cryptarum, B. lucorum, and B. magnus at a single location in the northwest of Scotland throughout the flight season. Using mitochondrial DNA for species identification, we investigated differences in phenology, response to weather variables and forage use. We also estimated niche region and niche overlap between different castes of the three species. Our results show varying levels of niche partitioning between the bumblebee species along three niche dimensions. The species had contrasting phenologies: The phenology of B. magnus was delayed relative to the other two species, while B. cryptarum had a relatively extended phenology, with workers and males more common than B. lucorum early and late in the season. We found divergent thermal specialisation: In contrast to B. cryptarum and B. magnus, B. lucorum worker activity was skewed toward warmer, sunnier conditions, leading to interspecific temporal variation. Furthermore, the three species differentially exploited the available forage plants: In particular, unlike the other two species, B. magnus fed predominantly on species of heather. The results suggest that ecological divergence in different niche dimensions and spatio‐temporal heterogeneity in the environment may contribute to the persistence of cryptic species in sympatry. Furthermore, our study suggests that cryptic species provide distinct and unique ecosystem services, demonstrating that morphological similarity does not necessarily equate to ecological equivalence.

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Unveiling cryptic species of the bumblebee subgenusBombus s. str.worldwide with COI barcodes (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Cited by 148 publications

References 90 publications

Revealing the hidden niches of cryptic bumblebees in Great Britain: Implications for conservation

Revealing the hidden niches of cryptic bumblebees in Great Britain: Implications for conservation

An integrative approach identifies a new species of bumblebee (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombini) from northeastern Brazil

Niche partitioning in a sympatric cryptic species complex

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