Data from: Diapausing bumble bee queens avoid drowning by using underwater respiration, anaerobic metabolism, and profound metabolic depression

Overwintering bumble bee queens enter a state of diapause, remaining
buried underground until spring. Remarkably, queens of the common eastern
bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) can survive complete submersion for at least
one week. We investigated the physiological mechanisms enabling this
tolerance, testing the hypothesis that submerged diapausing queens rely on
both underwater respiration and anaerobic metabolism for survival. Using
respirometry, we detected low but consistent CO2 production during
submersion, persisting through four and eight days underwater. Underwater
gas exchange, measured from CO2 levels in the headspace of a respirometry
chamber, was supported by a decline in dissolved oxygen in the water.
Submerged bees also accumulated lactate as an anaerobic end-product during
submersion, which decreased to pre-submersion levels after a week of
recovery. Recovery was characterized by an immediate increase in metabolic
rate, followed by a gradual decline to pre-submersion levels over one
week, accompanied by changes in respiratory patterns. This study reveals
that diapausing bumble bee queens survive and recover from prolonged
flooding through a combination of underwater respiration and anaerobic
metabolism in a state of profound metabolic depression. Such physiological
capacity underpins their resilience to environmental extremes and provides
insights into how terrestrial insects may persist in flood-prone habitats.