Biogeography and species diversity of bumblebees in Yunnan, Southwest China
Author of the article:LIANG Cheng1, 2** ZHANG Xue-Wen2 HUANG Jia-Xing1 SONG Wen-Fei2 ZHANG Hong1 LUO Wei-Ting2 AN J
Author's Workplace:1. Key Laboratory for Insect-Pollinator Biology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Apiculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; 2. Institute of Sericultural and Apiculture, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Mengzi 661101, China
Key Words:pollinators, bumblebee, regional division, species richness, species abundance
Abstract:
[Objectives] To describe the distribution patterns
and diversity of bumblebees in Yunnan province. [Methods] We
studied a sample of 5 655 bumblebee specimens of 35 species collected
throughout Yunnan province between 2009 and 2018. Regional divisions and
species richness were analyzed by comparing species composition and the number
of the species present within grid cells of 0.5° longitude × 0.5°
latitude, and species abundance was quantified as the number of individuals per
species. [Results] The bumblebee fauna of Yunnan can be
divided into two regions, the Yunnan plateau (Ⅰ) and the Hengduan mountains (Ⅱ). The Yunnan plateau region can be
further subdivided into five smaller subregions, which include the western to
central part of the subtropical mid-mountain canyon community (Ⅰ1), the south tropical low-mountain valley
community (Ⅰ2),
the southeast subtropical karst mountain river valley community (Ⅰ3), the eastern subtropical plateau
basin community (Ⅰ4) and
the northeastern subtropical mid-mountain river valley community (Ⅰ5). Similarly, the Hengduan mountain
region can also be subdivided into three smaller subregions, which include the
western subtropical alpine canyon community (Ⅱ1), the middle temperate alpine canyon community (Ⅱ2) and the northwestern, high, cold
alpine, meadow community (Ⅱ3).
Bumblebee species richness in these eight communities can be ranked in
descending order; Ⅱ3, Ⅰ3, Ⅱ2, Ⅰ1, Ⅰ5, Ⅰ4, Ⅱ1 and Ⅰ2. The
highest richness (18 bumblebee species) was found in grid cell (27.00°-27.50°N,99.50°-100.00°E) in the Hengduan mountain region. Two species, Bombus
friseanus and B. breviceps, were highly abundant, comprising
almost 50% of all specimens collected. Conversely, some species, including B. chinensis, B. richardsiellus and B. bellardii, were very rare. [Conclusion]
Distinct distribution patterns of
bumblebees in Yunnan probably reflect differences in topography and climate.
Two species, B. friseanus and B. breviceps, were relatively common,
but several species were very rare. Further research should be conducted to
ensure the conservation of rare species.