Sizzling cities: Native bee community composition and thermal tolerances related to urban heat

Bees pollinate most angiosperms, including many crop species.  As urbanization and climate change continue to increase at unprecedented rates, it is vital to understand how these variables influence the native bee community to predict future changes. Our observational studies involved surveying native bee communities in urban areas on a temperature gradient with bee bowls, vane traps, netting, and bamboo nests. We also conducted manipulative studies using a water bath to heat bees to find their thermal tolerances. We will discuss this research focusing on how urban heat affects native bee communities and individuals of these populations.