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Traits And Functional Diversity Of A Hyperdiverse Bee Assemblage Are Linked To Aridity, Benjamin D. Turnley

Biology ETDs

Climate change in the American Southwest is altering the composition of species assemblages. However, the resulting patterns in mean trait values and functional diversity are poorly understood. Bees assemblages in Southwestern drylands are exceptionally diverse, and vary greatly in their morphologic traits. In this study we focused on two questions: Have community-weighted mean trait values shifted over time and/or with aridity, consistent with the hypothesis that aridification is driving bee assemblage change? Has the functional diversity of the Sevilleta bee assemblage declined over time and/or with aridity, consistent with the hypothesis that pollination services could be declining? To address these …