Climate change will alter Amazonian bumblebees’ distribution, but effects are species-specific
IntroductionUnderstanding how climate change affects the distribution of Amazonian bumblebee species is essential for their conservation and the pollination services they provide. This study focuses on two poorly known species, Bombus brevivillus and Bombus transversalis, evaluating how future clima...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Bee Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frbee.2025.1510004/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850087203447767040 |
|---|---|
| author | Patrícia Nunes-Silva André Luis Acosta Rafael Cabral Borges Breno Magalhães Freitas Ricardo Caliari Oliveira Tereza Cristina Giannini Vera Lucia Imperatriz-Fonseca |
| author_facet | Patrícia Nunes-Silva André Luis Acosta Rafael Cabral Borges Breno Magalhães Freitas Ricardo Caliari Oliveira Tereza Cristina Giannini Vera Lucia Imperatriz-Fonseca |
| author_sort | Patrícia Nunes-Silva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionUnderstanding how climate change affects the distribution of Amazonian bumblebee species is essential for their conservation and the pollination services they provide. This study focuses on two poorly known species, Bombus brevivillus and Bombus transversalis, evaluating how future climate scenarios may alter their suitable habitats in the Brazilian Amazon. Identifying potential refugia and vulnerable areas is crucial for developing targeted conservation strategies.MethodsSpecies distribution models were applied using occurrence data from museum records and field collections. Climatic suitability was projected under the baseline period (1970–2000) and two future periods (2021–2040 and 2041–2060) using the high-emission scenario (SSP5-8.5) from the IPCC AR6 report. An ensemble modeling approach combining five different algorithms was used to predict areas of stability, habitat loss, and potential range expansion.ResultsBy 2060, B. brevivillus is projected to lose 41.6% of its current suitable habitat, with significant reductions in northern and coastal regions. Conversely, B. transversalis is expected to retain 89.5% of its current range, showing a westward distribution shift. New climatically suitable areas may emerge for both species, particularly in the western Amazon, potentially serving as future refugia.DiscussionThe findings highlight species-specific responses to climate change, with B. brevivillus being more vulnerable than B. transversalis. These results emphasize the need for proactive conservation measures to protect critical habitats and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Future research should focus on assessing thermal tolerance and habitat connectivity to refine conservation strategies and ensure the persistence of these essential pollinators in changing environmental conditions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0e77164af9344c07b89a5fd72ac8a404 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2813-5911 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Bee Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-0e77164af9344c07b89a5fd72ac8a4042025-08-20T02:43:16ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Bee Science2813-59112025-02-01310.3389/frbee.2025.15100041510004Climate change will alter Amazonian bumblebees’ distribution, but effects are species-specificPatrícia Nunes-Silva0André Luis Acosta1Rafael Cabral Borges2Breno Magalhães Freitas3Ricardo Caliari Oliveira4Tereza Cristina Giannini5Vera Lucia Imperatriz-Fonseca6X-Reality and GeoInformatics Lab (Vizlab), Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS), São Leopoldo, RS, BrazilPlanetary Health Brazil - Institute of Advanced Studies (IEA-USP), Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BrazilInstituto Tecnológico Vale, Belém, Pará, BrazilBee Unit, Animal Science Department, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, BrazilDepartament de Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, SpainInstituto Tecnológico Vale, Belém, Pará, BrazilDepartamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilIntroductionUnderstanding how climate change affects the distribution of Amazonian bumblebee species is essential for their conservation and the pollination services they provide. This study focuses on two poorly known species, Bombus brevivillus and Bombus transversalis, evaluating how future climate scenarios may alter their suitable habitats in the Brazilian Amazon. Identifying potential refugia and vulnerable areas is crucial for developing targeted conservation strategies.MethodsSpecies distribution models were applied using occurrence data from museum records and field collections. Climatic suitability was projected under the baseline period (1970–2000) and two future periods (2021–2040 and 2041–2060) using the high-emission scenario (SSP5-8.5) from the IPCC AR6 report. An ensemble modeling approach combining five different algorithms was used to predict areas of stability, habitat loss, and potential range expansion.ResultsBy 2060, B. brevivillus is projected to lose 41.6% of its current suitable habitat, with significant reductions in northern and coastal regions. Conversely, B. transversalis is expected to retain 89.5% of its current range, showing a westward distribution shift. New climatically suitable areas may emerge for both species, particularly in the western Amazon, potentially serving as future refugia.DiscussionThe findings highlight species-specific responses to climate change, with B. brevivillus being more vulnerable than B. transversalis. These results emphasize the need for proactive conservation measures to protect critical habitats and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Future research should focus on assessing thermal tolerance and habitat connectivity to refine conservation strategies and ensure the persistence of these essential pollinators in changing environmental conditions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frbee.2025.1510004/fullBombusspecies distribution modelingconservationdecision-makingpriority zones |
| spellingShingle | Patrícia Nunes-Silva André Luis Acosta Rafael Cabral Borges Breno Magalhães Freitas Ricardo Caliari Oliveira Tereza Cristina Giannini Vera Lucia Imperatriz-Fonseca Climate change will alter Amazonian bumblebees’ distribution, but effects are species-specific Frontiers in Bee Science Bombus species distribution modeling conservation decision-making priority zones |
| title | Climate change will alter Amazonian bumblebees’ distribution, but effects are species-specific |
| title_full | Climate change will alter Amazonian bumblebees’ distribution, but effects are species-specific |
| title_fullStr | Climate change will alter Amazonian bumblebees’ distribution, but effects are species-specific |
| title_full_unstemmed | Climate change will alter Amazonian bumblebees’ distribution, but effects are species-specific |
| title_short | Climate change will alter Amazonian bumblebees’ distribution, but effects are species-specific |
| title_sort | climate change will alter amazonian bumblebees distribution but effects are species specific |
| topic | Bombus species distribution modeling conservation decision-making priority zones |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frbee.2025.1510004/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT patricianunessilva climatechangewillalteramazonianbumblebeesdistributionbuteffectsarespeciesspecific AT andreluisacosta climatechangewillalteramazonianbumblebeesdistributionbuteffectsarespeciesspecific AT rafaelcabralborges climatechangewillalteramazonianbumblebeesdistributionbuteffectsarespeciesspecific AT brenomagalhaesfreitas climatechangewillalteramazonianbumblebeesdistributionbuteffectsarespeciesspecific AT ricardocaliarioliveira climatechangewillalteramazonianbumblebeesdistributionbuteffectsarespeciesspecific AT terezacristinagiannini climatechangewillalteramazonianbumblebeesdistributionbuteffectsarespeciesspecific AT veraluciaimperatrizfonseca climatechangewillalteramazonianbumblebeesdistributionbuteffectsarespeciesspecific |