The impact of body size on response to climate change: A large-scale study in native bees

Monday, November 11, 2024

9:00 AM – 9:12 AM MST

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 225 A, PCC

Presenting Author(s)

TW

Theresa Wolff (she/her/hers)

Graduate Student
Auburn University
Wichita, Kansas

Co-Author(s)

CP

Clint Penick

Assistant Professor
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama
Elsa Youngsteadt (she/her/hers)

Assistant Professor
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina
KM

Kevin McCluney

Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, Ohio

Body size is a fundamental trait that influences the effect of climate on an animal. Smaller animals have a higher surface-area-to-volume ratio, meaning they lose heat and water faster. Therefore, smaller animals face higher risk of desiccation and death during heat waves and droughts, both of which are expected to increase due to climate change. Differing body size impacts responses to high temperature and desiccation in vertebrates. However, similar studies in invertebrates have found mixed results, in part because body size is influenced by many other factors including phenology, life history, and resource availability. Determining what traits lead species to success or failure under a changing climate is increasingly important, especially for insect pollinators. To investigate the relationship between body size and survival under climatic extremes, this research utilizes data from a large collaborative USDA project collecting bees from 60 urban community garden sites across six states. This work connects thermal and water balance components, generally investigated separately, to body size. Smaller bees have less water in their bodies due to higher surface area. This research is important because it indicates increasing temperatures are less impactful to smaller bees than changes in water availability. Therefore, smaller bees may be more at risk overall due to the effects of climate change than larger bees.