Stressful conditions reveal decrease in size, modification of shape but relatively stable asymmetry in bumblebee wings.

ABSTRACT: Human activities can generate a wide variety of direct and indirect effects on animals, which can manifest as environmental and genetic stressors. Several phenotypic markers have been proposed as indicators of these stressful conditions but have displayed contrasting results, depending, among others, on the phenotypic trait measured. Knowing the worldwide decline of multiple bumblebee species, it is important to understand these stressors and link them with the drivers of decline. We assessed the impact of several stressors (i.e. natural toxin-, parasite-, thermic- and inbreeding- stress) on both wing shape and size and their variability as well as their directional and fluctuating asymmetries. The total data set includes 650 individuals of Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Overall

SUBMITTER: Gerard M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6181934 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature