Niche modeling of bumble bee species (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Bombus) in Colombia reveals highly fragmented potential distribution for some species

Abstract

Insect population decline has been reported worldwide, including those of pollinators important for ecosystem services. Therefore, conservation actions which rely on available rigorous species distribution data are necessary to protect biodiversity. Niche modeling is an appropriate approach to distribution maps, but when it comes to bumble bees, few studies have been performed in South America. We modeled ecological niches of nine Colombian Bombus species with MAXENT 3.4 software using bioclimatic variables available from WorldClim. This resulted in maps for each species that show the potential distribution area at the present time. Modeled species maps accurately represent potential niches according to the description of bioclimatic conditions in the species' habitat. We grouped the species into three clusters based on our results, as well as on distributional information from literature on the topic: High Mountain, Mid- Mountain and inter-Andean, and the Amazon and Eastern Plains Basin. Niche modeling depicted bumble bee species' distribution in Colombia, the results of which can serve as a useful tool for conservation policies in the country.