TY  - JOUR
A1  - Mayr, Antonia V.
A1  - Keller, Alexander
A1  - Peters, Marcell K.
A1  - Grimmer, Gudrun
A1  - Krischke, Beate
A1  - Geyer, Mareen
A1  - Schmitt, Thomas
A1  - Steffan‐Dewenter, Ingolf
T1  - Cryptic species and hidden ecological interactions of halictine bees along an elevational gradient
JF  - Ecology and Evolution
N2  - Changes of abiotic and biotic conditions along elevational gradients represent serious challenges to organisms which may promote the turnover of species, traits and biotic interaction partners. Here, we used molecular methods to study cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles, biotic interactions and phylogenetic relationships of halictid bees of the genus Lasioglossum along a 2,900 m elevational gradient at Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. We detected a strong species turnover of morphologically indistinguishable taxa with phylogenetically clustered cryptic species at high elevations, changes in CHC profiles, pollen resource diversity, and a turnover in the gut and body surface microbiome of bees. At high elevations, increased proportions of saturated compounds in CHC profiles indicate physiological adaptations to prevent desiccation. More specialized diets with higher proportions of low‐quality Asteraceae pollen imply constraints in the availability of food resources. Interactive effects of climatic conditions on gut and surface microbiomes, CHC profiles, and pollen diet suggest complex feedbacks among abiotic conditions, ecological interactions, physiological adaptations, and phylogenetic constraints as drivers of halictid bee communities at Mt. Kilimanjaro.
KW  - COI
KW  - cuticular chemistry
KW  - elevational gradient
KW  - Halictidae
KW  - microbiome metabarcoding
KW  - pollen metabarcoding
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-238853
VL  - 11
IS  - 12
SP  - 7700
EP  - 7712
ER  -