Biogeographic parallels in thermal tolerance and gene expression variation under temperature stress in a widespread bumble bee

Pimsler, Meaghan L.; Oyen, Kennan; Herndon, James D.; Jackson, Jason M.; Strange, James P.; Dillon, Michael E.; Lozier, Jeffrey D.

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-73391-8

Cited by 60 publications

(103 citation statements)

References 101 publications

(138 reference statements)

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“…Recently, Pimsler et al. (2020) described the same pattern in Bombus vosnesenski : no significant regional differentiation in gene expression at intraspecific level under high temperatures exposure (CTmax). However, for the most widespread species, B. terrestris , which lives in habitats ranging from warm to cool temperate climates, our results showed a statistical marginal significance, in contrast to the other studied taxa with a more restricted geographic range.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…Bumblebee distributions and declines are affected by the interaction between climate and food availability, the effects of which have resulted in negative population trends where populations are distant from their climatic optimum, especially in warmer areas (Williams 1986;Williams et al 2007). These endoheterothermic bees display several adaptations to cold climates but few to high temperatures (Heinrich 2005;Pimsler et al 2020). Over the last decades, strong shifts have been reported in bumblebee populations worldwide (Goulson et al 2004), at least partially triggered by climate change (Kerr et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These endoheterothermic bees display several adaptations to cold climates but few to high temperatures (Heinrich 2005; Pimsler et al. 2020). Over the last decades, strong shifts have been reported in bumblebee populations worldwide (Goulson et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Global effects of extreme temperatures on wild bumblebees

Martinet

Dellicour

Ghisbain

et al. 2021

Conservation Biology

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Climate plays a key role in shaping population trends and determining the geographic distribution of species because of limits in species' thermal tolerance. An evaluation of species tolerance to temperature change can therefore help predict their potential spatial shifts and population trends triggered by ongoing global warming. We assessed inter-and intraspecific variations in heat resistance in relation to body mass, local mean temperatures, and evolutionary relationships in 39 bumblebee species, a major group of pollinators in temperate and cold ecosystems, across 3 continents, 6 biomes, and 20 regions (2386 male specimens). Based on experimental bioassays, we measured the time before heat stupor of bumblebee males at a heatwave temperature of 40°C. Interspecific variability was significant, in contrast to interpopulational variability, which was consistent with heat resistance being a species-specific trait. Moreover, cold-adapted species are much more sensitive to heat stress than temperate and Mediterranean species. Relative to their sensitivity to extreme temperatures, our results help explain recent population declines and range shifts in bumblebees following climate change.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Global effects of extreme temperatures on wild bumblebees

Martinet

Dellicour

Ghisbain

et al. 2021

Conservation Biology

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“…2013), ranging from −5 • C to −9 • C. Some discrepancies among CT min estimates may be due to differences in the method used. For instance, Oyen et al (2016) used a righting response assay (with CT min = highest chamber air temperature at which a bee was unable to right itself within 30s after being flipped), while Dotson (2017), Dillion (2018), andPimsler et al (2020) all used another method to measure CT min . In their method, individual workers were placed in vials, which in turn were placed in specially designed wells in a solid aluminum block attached to an insulated thermoelectric plate.…”

Section: Effect Of Body Size and Mass On Critical Thermal Limitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In their method, individual workers were placed in vials, which in turn were placed in specially designed wells in a solid aluminum block attached to an insulated thermoelectric plate. While cooling the bees at 0.25 • C/min, CT min was measured as the vial temperature at which workers went in chill coma (Dotson, 2017;Oyen and Dillion, 2018;Pimsler et al, 2020). Although the same method to measure CT min was used, it resulted in large differences in CT min -values for workers of B. impatiens (~4 • C; Oyen and Dillon, 2018) Pimsler et al, 2020).…”

Section: Effect Of Body Size and Mass On Critical Thermal Limitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of intraspecific variation on measurements of thermal tolerance in bumble bees

Maebe

Baets

Vandamme

et al. 2021

Journal of Thermal Biology

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Climate change is an important driver of bee decline despite the fact that many species might respond to climate change differently. One method to predict how a species will respond to climate change is to identify its thermal tolerance limits. However, differences in thermal tolerance might also occur among distant populations of the same species based on their local environment or even among castes of social insects. Here, we investigated intraspecific differences in thermal tolerance among subspecies of the large earth bumble bee, Bombus terrestris (Apidae). We determined the critical thermal minima and maxima (CT min and CT max , respectively) of workers and queens from three lab-reared B. terrestris subspecies (B. t. terrestris, B. t. audax, and B. t. canariensis) which originated from different thermal environments. Our results showed that caste has an influence on critical thermal minima, with queens being most cold-tolerant, but the values of critical thermal maxima were not correlated to caste or size. The thermal tolerance of workers did not differ among the subspecies. Although heat tolerance was similar in queens, B. t. canariensis queens (originating from the warmest environments) were the least cold tolerant. Overall, we showed that B. terrestris may be generally robust against climate warming, but that particular subspecies and/or populations may be more vulnerable to extreme temperature variability. Future research should focus on responses of B. terrestris populations to short, extreme thermal events.

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Variance in heat tolerance in bumble bees correlates with species geographic range and is associated with several environmental and biological factors

Feuerborn,

Quinlan,

Shippee

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Globally, insects have been impacted by climate change, with bumble bees in particular showing range shifts and declining species diversity with global warming. This suggests heat tolerance is a likely factor limiting the distribution and success of these bees. Studies have shown high intraspecific variance in bumble bee thermal tolerance, suggesting biological and environmental factors may be impacting heat resilience. Understanding these factors is important for assessing vulnerability and finding environmental solutions to mitigate effects of climate change. In this study, we assess whether geographic range variation in bumble bees in the eastern United States is associated with heat tolerance and further dissect which other biological and environmental factors explain variation in heat sensitivity in these bees. We examine heat tolerance by caste, sex, and rearing condition (wild/lab) across six eastern US bumble bee species, and assess the role of age, reproductive status, body size, and interactive effects of humidity and temperature on thermal tolerance in Bombus impatiens. We found marked differences in heat tolerance by species that correlate with each species' latitudinal range, habitat, and climatic niche, and we found significant variation in thermal sensitivity by caste and sex. Queens had considerably lower heat tolerance than workers and males, with greater tolerance when queens would first be leaving their natal nest, and lower tolerance after ovary activation. Wild bees tended to have higher heat tolerance than lab reared bees, and body size was associated with heat tolerance only in wild‐caught foragers. Humidity showed a strong interaction with heat effects, pointing to the need to regulate relative humidity in thermal assays and consider its role in nature. Altogether, we found most tested biological conditions impact thermal tolerance and highlight the stages of these bees that will be most sensitive to future climate change.

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Biogeographic parallels in thermal tolerance and gene expression variation under temperature stress in a widespread bumble bee

Cited by 60 publications

References 101 publications

Global effects of extreme temperatures on wild bumblebees

Global effects of extreme temperatures on wild bumblebees

Impact of intraspecific variation on measurements of thermal tolerance in bumble bees

Variance in heat tolerance in bumble bees correlates with species geographic range and is associated with several environmental and biological factors

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