Meeting Abstract
Fatty acids (FAs), key components of lipids, are important energy resources in organisms. The structure and function of FAs are affected by changes in environmental temperatures, ultimately impacting organism physiology. However, both plants and animals can adapt to temperature changes by adjusting FA composition to manipulate fluidity, as explained by the ‘homeoviscous adaptation’ hypothesis. FA fluidity varies with the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids (UFA: SFA). As ectotherms, insects are particularly vulnerable to changes in environmental temperature. Pronounced thermal gradients across altitude and seasons may therefore challenge lipid physiology in insects. We compared UFA:SFA in four native bee genera (Andrena, Bombus, Megachile & Osmia) collected throughout the growing season (May through September) at two different altitudes in Wyoming. Analysis of FAs using GC-FID revealed a significant increase in UFA:SFA ratios at higher altitudes in Andrena, Bombus, and Osmia and a significant decrease in UFA:SFA ratio across the growing season for Bombus. These data provide new evidence for homeoviscous adaptation across altitude and season.
