Similarities and differences in the realized niche of two allopatric populations of a solitary bee under environmental variability

Abstract

We studied the realized niche of two distant allopatric wool-carder bee populations (bee-plant interaction and reproductive biology in weather variability). In one population, we analyzed the direct and indirect effects of weather on bee-resource interactions. The two populations shared several niche characteristics but showed some differences. Anthidium vigintipunctatum is a specialist species, with plasticity to extend the individual niche pushed by resources availability and weather variability. In both regions, the bee’s response to weather condition was similar (nesting rates and the reproductive success). Causal analysis indicated climate directly determines bee’s reproductive success, and indirect resource availability effects are subtle. The immediate response to environmental conditions warms about A. vigintipunctatum sensitivity to expected changes in the regional climate which could be a negative pressure on bees’ survival.