Niche modeling of bumble bee species (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Bombus) in Colombia reveals highly fragmented potential distribution for some species

Insect population decline has been reported worldwide, including those of pollinators important for ecosystem services. Therefore, conservation actions which rely on available rigorous species distribution data are necessary to protect biodiversity. Niche modeling is an appropriate approach maps, but when it comes bumble bees, few studies have performed in South America. We modeled ecological niches nine Colombian Bombus with MAXENT 3.4 software using bioclimatic variables from WorldClim. This resulted maps each that show the potential area at present time. Modeled accurately represent according description conditions species’ habitat. grouped into three clusters based our results, as well distributional information literature topic: High Mountain, Mid- Mountain and inter-Andean, Amazon Eastern Plains Basin. depicted bee Colombia, results can serve a useful tool policies country.