Effects of Climate Variability on Queen Production and Pollen Preferences of Neotropical Bumblebee Bombus atratus in a H
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INSECT POLLINATORS
Effects of Climate Variability on Queen Production and Pollen Preferences of Neotropical Bumblebee Bombus atratus in a High Andean Suburban Condition D RIAÑO-JIMÉNEZ , M GUERRERO, P ALARCÓN, JR CURE Nueva Granada Univ, Cajicá, Colombia
Keywords Gynes, palynology, colony development, dry season, rainy season, pollen collecting Correspondence D. Riaño-Jiménez, Nueva Granada Univ, Cajicá, Colombia; diegorianojimenez@ gmail.com Edited by Carmen S S Pires – Embrapa Received 20 November 2018 and accepted 20 December 2019 * Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil 2020
Abstract Bombus atratus Franklin is a widely distributed bumblebee of South America. In Colombia, this species is recognized for its ability to adapt to highly disturbed habitats. However, knowledge of its ecology is poorly known, in particular conditions to ensure the long-term conservation of its populations. Identification of pollen resources is an important issue that could be used as a tool to manage and conserve bumblebees. In tropical areas, rainfall patterns could affect floral phenology and therefore the availability of pollen resources. Considering this, the present work aimed to establish the effect of extreme weather conditions (El Niño) in pollen availability, use of pollinic sources, and gyne production in B. atratus colonies. We reared and located 14 B. atratus colonies in a suburban area during a dry season (ENSO “El Niño”) and a rainy season (ENSO “La Niña”). We registered time to gyne production and numbers of gynes produced per colony. We extracted pollen samples to establish both its floral origin and its relative abundance. We measured floral offer for each season. The data of pollen use per colony were utilized to perform Bipartite networks. We analyzed the production of gynes and pollen use per season with correlation models and generalized linear models. Colonies of the rainy season produced more gynes and faster. The floral diversity and offer were higher during the rainy season. Successful colonies used specific pollen sources in two seasons, independently of the floral offer. Extreme dry season affected development of B. atratus colonies.
Introduction Bumblebees (Bombus) are important pollinators of both natural and agro-ecosystems (Michener 2000). However, many species of bumblebees have undergone dramatic declines in local abundance and geographical range over the last 20 years (Williams & Osborne 2009, Cameron et al 2010). Global warming, agricultural practices (i.e., exposure to pesticides), degradation and loss of ecosystems, and introduction of both exotic bees and plants, are some of the major drivers of bumblebees’ global decline (Carvell et al 2006, Colla & Packer 2008, Goulson et al 2008, Grixti et al 2009, Winfree et al 2011). Pollen supply is an important factor that
determines colonies’ development (growing and reproduction) (Michener 2007). Although many bumblebees are considered polylectic bees, recent studies show its specific pollen requirements, in particular, protein-rich pollen (Kitaoka & Nieh 2
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