Climate change impacts on diapause outcomes in Bombus terrestris across an environmental gradient

Most temperate insects survive winter by entering a period of dormancy called diapause. Some of the greatest climate change impacts are likely to occur during this period, as entire populations are represented by a relatively small number of hibernating individuals. Bumblebee populations are particularly vulnerable because only queens overwinter and any decline in the winter survival of queens, or reduced post-diapause fitness, could have significant consequences on population dynamics the following spring. This study investigated the impact of different overwintering conditions on Bombus terrestris queens across an altitudinal gradient in the German Alps. Snow pack coverage was manipulated to simulate advanced snow melt and delayed snow melt, and maintained for current/control conditions. We found that changes in snow pack and altitude affect the level and variability of soil temperature across the winter season, but that these have no effect on hibernation survival (very high in all c..., , , # Climate change impacts on diapause outcomes in Bombus terrestris across an environmental gradient

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.5mkkwh7fx](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.5mkkwh7fx)

## Description of the data and file structure

These data are from a study investigating the impact of different overwintering conditions on *Bombus terrestris* queens across an altitudinal gradient in the German Alps.

### Files and variables

#### File: All\_bee\_data\_both\_winters.csv

**Description:** Data collected from hibernating bumblebee queens

##### Variables

* Winter: Refers to the year experiment carried out. Either 20/21 or 21/22.
* Queen colony: The ID of the original colony that the queen came from.
* ID: Unique bumblebee ID.
* Altitude: The altitude that the queen hibernated at - either low (700 metres above sea level (m.a.s.l.)), mid (1200 m.a.s.l.) or top (1650 m.a.s.l.).
* Snow: Snow manipulation treatment - either delayed (additional snow added), advanced (snow removed) or control (...,