Potential host number in cuckoo bees (Psithyrus subgen.) increases toward higher elevations

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License: CC BY 4.0
Serval ID
serval:BIB_AC72AD781435
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Potential host number in cuckoo bees (Psithyrus subgen.) increases toward higher elevations
Journal
Frontiers of Biogeography
Author(s)
Pradervand Jean-Nicolas, Pellissier Loic, Litsios Glenn, Guisan Antoine
ISSN
1948-6596
Publication state
Published
Issued date
24/07/2013
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
5
Number
2
Language
english
Abstract
In severe and variable conditions, specialized resource selection strategies should be less fre‐ quent because extinction risks increase for species that depend on a single and unstable resource. Psithyrus (Bombus subgenus Psithyrus) are bumblebee parasites that usurp Bombus nests and display inter‐specific variation in the number of hosts they parasitize. Using a phylogenetic comparative frame‐ work, we show that Psithyrus species at higher elevations display a higher number of hosts species com‐ pared with species restricted to lower elevations. Species inhabiting high elevations also cover a larger temperature range, suggesting that species able to occur in colder conditions may benefit from recruit‐ ment from populations occurring in warmer conditions. Our results provide evidence for an 'altitudinal niche breadth hypothesis' in parasitic species, showing a decrease in the parasites' specialization along the elevational gradient, and also suggesting that Rapoport's rule might apply to Psithyrus.
Keywords
altitude, altitudinal gradient, bee, generalist, geographic range, gradient, niche breadth, parasitism, Rapoport, specialist
Open Access
Yes
Create date
06/05/2013 17:22
Last modification date
01/06/2024 7:29
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