Changes in community composition are an important, but hard to predict, effect of climate change. Here, we use a wild-bee study system test the ability critical thermal maxima (CT max , measure heat tolerance) predict responses urban heat-island effects Raleigh, NC, USA. Among 15 focal species, CT ranged from 44.6 51.3°C, and was strongly predictive population warming across 18 sites ( r 2 = 0.44). Species with low declined most. After phylogenetic correction, solitary species cavity-nesting...

Abstract Cities experience elevated temperature, CO 2 , and nitrogen deposition decades ahead of the global average, such that biological response to urbanization may predict future climate change. This hypothesis remains untested due a lack complementary urban long‐term observations. Here, we examine an herbivore, scale insect Melanaspis tenebricosa temperature in context heat island, series historical fluctuations, recent warming. We survey M. on 55 street trees Raleigh, NC 342 herbarium...

In light of global climate change, ecological studies increasingly address effects temperature on organisms and ecosystems. To measure air at biologically relevant scales in the field, ecologists often use small, portable sensors. Sensors must be shielded from solar radiation to provide accurate measurements, but our review 18 years literature indicates that shielding practices vary across (when reported all), invent construct ad hoc shields without testing their efficacy. We performed two...

Biological effects of climate change are expected to vary geographically, with a strong signature latitude. For ectothermic animals, there is systematic latitudinal variation in the relationship between and thermal performance curves, which describe temperature an organism's fitness. Here, we ask whether these documented patterns can be generalized predict arthropod responses warming across mid- high temperate latitudes, for taxa whose physiology has not been measured. To address this...

Given the role of infectious disease in global pollinator decline, there is a need to understand factors that shape pathogen susceptibility and transmission bees. Here we ask how urbanization affects immune response load feral managed colonies honey bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus), predominant economically important worldwide. Using quantitative real-time PCR, measured expression 4 genes relative abundance 10 bee pathogens. We also worker survival laboratory bioassay. found pressure on...

A substantial amount of global carbon is stored in mature trees. However, no experiments to date test how warming affects tree storage. Using a unique, citywide, factorial experiment, we investigated and insect herbivory affected physiological function sequestration (carbon per year) Urban increased herbivorous arthropod abundance on trees, but these herbivores had negligible effects sequestration. Instead, urban was associated with an estimated 12% loss sequestration, part because...

Urban green spaces provide ecosystem services to city residents, but their management is hindered by a poor understanding of ecology. We examined novel service relevant urban public health and esthetics: the consumption littered food waste arthropods. Theory data from natural systems suggest that magnitude resilience this should increase with biological diversity. measured removal presenting known quantities cookies, potato chips, hot dogs in street medians (24 sites) parks (21 New York...

Seed dispersal mutualisms are essential for the survival of diverse plant species and communities worldwide. Among invertebrates, only ants have a major role in seed dispersal, thousands produce seeds specialized ant "diffuse" multispecies interactions. An outstanding but poorly understood ant-seed mutualism occurs Amazonian rainforest, where arboreal collect several epiphyte cultivate them nutrient-rich nests, forming abundant conspicuous hanging gardens known as ant-gardens (AGs). AG...

Abstract Global urbanisation is rapidly expanding and most of the world's humans now live in cities. Most ecological studies have, however, focused on protected areas. To address this issue, we tested predictions from areas urban ecosystems. Because cities are heterogeneous habitat mosaics which include habitats with varying levels chronic environmental stress, less modified ecosystems about community‐wide responses to variation stress. We sampled ants across Manhattan's mosaic, at sites...

Prescribed burning is a common silvicultural practice used in the management of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill., Pinales: Pinaceae) savannas to reduce hardwood encroachment and ground cover maintain biodiversity. We investigated response native bee community (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) Sandhills North Carolina prescribed on 3-yr rotation over two consecutive years (2012 2013). deployed bowl traps sites that had been burned year sampling, 1 yr before, 2 unburned controls. In...

Abstract Global climate change is expected to have pervasive effects on the diversity and distribution of species, particularly ectotherms whose body temperatures depend environmental temperatures. However, these impacts remain difficult predict, in part because may adapt or acclimate novel conditions use behavioural thermoregulation reduce their exposure stressful microclimates. Here we examine potential for physiological changes mitigate warming five species ants a temperate forest habitat...

Throughout lowland Amazonia, arboreal ants collect seeds of specific plants and cultivate them in nutrient-rich nests, forming diverse yet obligate species-specific symbioses called Neotropical ant-gardens (AGs). The depend on their symbiotic for nest stability, the AGs substrate nutrients. Although are limited to participants, it is unknown at what stage specificity arises, seed fate pathways AG epiphytes undocumented. Here we examine ant-seed interaction by comparing ant community observed...

Trees provide ecosystem services that benefit humans and the environment. Unfortunately, urban trees often do not maximum due to abiotic stress arthropod herbivores borers. These problems originate from being planted in unsuitable conditions. Cities are warmer than natural areas because impervious surfaces absorb reradiate heat. Higher temperatures can increase pest insect abundance water stress, reduce street tree condition relative forests. For example, gloomy scale [Melanaspsis...

Abstract Wild bees can be essential pollinators in natural, agricultural, and urban systems, but populations of some species have declined. Efforts to assess the status wild are hindered by uncertainty common sampling methods, such as pan traps aerial netting, which may or not provide a valid index abundance across habitats. Mark-recapture methods effective means estimating population size, widely used vertebrates rarely applied bees. Here we review existing mark-recapture studies present...

Global declines in bumblebee populations are linked to climate change, but specific mechanisms imposing thermal stress on these species poorly known. Here we examine the potential for heat workers foraging pollen, an essential resource colony development. Laboratory studies have shown that pollen causes increased thoracic temperatures (Tth) bees, this effect has not been examined bumblebees nor real-world situations. We effects of increasing load size Tth Bombus impatiens field while...

Pollination is an essential component of plant reproduction that transformed by the novel environmental conditions in cities. We summarize patterns urban and trace mechanisms which environments influence pollination, beginning at level individual plant. then progress through several processes unique to animal-pollinated plants, including plant–pollinator signaling, community-level effects, emergent interaction networks. Last, we review pollen movement spatial mating Despite a global signal...

Resource and nutrient availability varies spatially influences animal foraging patterns. Under the compensation hypothesis, animals should preferentially forage for most limiting in environment. Animal preferences have been well studied tropics, where terrestrial arboreal fauna are clearly differentiated limited by different nutrients. In temperate forests, vertical stratification of may be less pronounced its role ecology is poorly understood. Here, we examine preference patterns over a...

<title>Abstract</title> Increasing urban temperatures due to the heat island effect are associated with widespread biodiversity declines. Because cities distributed across diverse climatic zones, effects of on may vary geographically. Here, we examined how warming influences ant communities four U.S. that span 6.6° latitude and differ by 4.1°C in average summer temperature. We sampled ants using baits placed at base a single common tree species along an temperature gradient within each city....

ABSTRACT Urbanization alters insect pollinator diversity and foraging ranges, while also providing novel habitats. Common urban landscape features, such as roads buildings, may alter the ability of pollinators to move forage throughout landscape. In this study, we aimed quantify effects common features on movement. We focused roads, forest fragments, lawns, community gardens. studied five garden sites surrounding them in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. To measure movement across each feature,...

The macroscale at which we measure, model and predict climate change does not align with the microscale small ectotherms experience climate. To understand climate's influence on biodiversity potential ecological effects of change, more work is needed to how ectotherm physiology relates microclimatic temperatures. Tree canopies are an example a habitat that produces extreme microclimates, arthropods in tropical forest threatened by heat warming. situation temperate canopies, however, less...

Premise: The defining life history strategy of spring ephemeral wildflowers is their avoidance shading by trees during the brief, high-light period before canopy leaf-out. Studies suggest that ephemerals will experience increased light competition because leaf-out more sensitive to warming than phenology ephemerals. However, it remains unclear how longer durations shade alter population dynamics and whether all populations are at risk. Methods: We experimentally shaded Erythronium...