Effect of urbanization and its environmental stressors on the intraspecific variation of flight functional traits in two bumblebee species

• DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05184-x
• Publication Date: 2022-05-16T15:02:52Z
• Authors: Nicola Tommasi; Emiliano Pioltelli; Paolo Biella; Massimo Labra; Maurizio Casiraghi; Andrea Galimberti
• Keywords: Bumblebee; Bombus terrestris

The way urbanization shapes the intraspecific variation of pollinator functional traits is little understood. However, this topic relevant for investigating ecosystem services and health. Here, we studied how affects workers in two bumblebee species (Bombus terrestris B. pascuorum) sampled 37 sites along a gradient North Italy (an area 1800 km2 including metropolitan context Milan other surrounding capital districts). Namely, investigated effect land use composition, configuration, air temperature, flower resource abundance, pollutants on related to flight performance stress during insect development (i.e., wing size, shape size fluctuating asymmetry). bumblebees responded idiosyncratically urbanization. Urban temperatures were associated with smaller sizes pascuorum more accentuated asymmetry terrestris. Moreover, abundance correlated bigger wings less asymmetric pascuorum. Other did not vary significantly, urban variables played minor effects. These species-specific patterns highlight that environmental stressor linked negatively impact stability these syntopic bumblebees, possible consequences pollination service they provide.