What limits species ranges? Empirical tests in native pollinators. The project aims to reveal why species have restricted geographic ranges and do not adapt to environments beyond their range. This kn

Description

What limits species ranges? Empirical tests in native pollinators. The project aims to reveal why species have restricted geographic ranges and do not adapt to environments beyond their range. This knowledge is important for conserving vulnerable species, managing agricultural species, and forecasting species occurrences as climates change. By combining physiological and genomic data of wild native pollinators – stingless bees – we will test different mechanisms theorized to enforce species range limits. Expected outcomes include new insights into why species occur where they do, enhanced potential to predict species responses to climate change, and knowledge of stingless bees which benefits the application of these insects as pollinators of Australian crops. . Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3104 - Evolutionary Biology. Lead: Dr Vanessa Kellermann