Data from: Diapausing bumble bee queens avoid drowning by using underwater respiration, anaerobic metabolism, and profound metabolic depression
Data files
Jan 31, 2026 version files 18.21 KB
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AllDataCompiled.xlsx
15.48 KB
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README.md
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Abstract
Overwintering bumble bee queens enter a state of diapause, remaining buried underground until spring. Remarkably, queens of the common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) can survive complete submersion for at least one week. We investigated the physiological mechanisms enabling this tolerance, testing the hypothesis that submerged diapausing queens rely on both underwater respiration and anaerobic metabolism for survival. Using respirometry, we detected low but consistent CO2 production during submersion, persisting through four and eight days underwater. Underwater gas exchange, measured from CO2 levels in the headspace of a respirometry chamber, was supported by a decline in dissolved oxygen in the water. Submerged bees also accumulated lactate as an anaerobic end-product during submersion, which decreased to pre-submersion levels after a week of recovery. Recovery was characterized by an immediate increase in metabolic rate, followed by a gradual decline to pre-submersion levels over one week, accompanied by changes in respiratory patterns. This study reveals that diapausing bumble bee queens survive and recover from prolonged flooding through a combination of underwater respiration and anaerobic metabolism in a state of profound metabolic depression. Such physiological capacity underpins their resilience to environmental extremes and provides insights into how terrestrial insects may persist in flood-prone habitats.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.hdr7sqvx4
Description of the data and file structure
Four datasets were collected from diapausing bumble bee queens (Bombus impatiens).
Files and variables
File: AllDataCompiled.xlsx
Description: Four datasets were collected from diapausing bumble bee queens (Bombus impatiens).
The first data set, named "submersionCO2", presents the individual identification, the body mass (g), and carbon dioxide production rates (μL CO2/hr/g) of diapausing queens before being submerged in water (PreD1), immediately after submersion (SubD1), and four (SubD4) and eight (SubD8) days of continuous submersion.
Variables
- Individual ID
- Body mass (g)
- Treatment: (Presubmersion = PreD1; submersion day 1 = SubD1; submersion day 4 = SubD4; submersion day 8 = SubD8)
- Carbon dioxide production rate (μL CO2/hr/g)
The second data set, named "SubmersionO2", presents the individual identification, the body mass (g), and oxygen consumption rates (μmol O2/hr/g) of diapausing queens after four (SubD4) and eight (SubD8) days of continuous submersion. Values obtained using an optical oxygen probe on another group of queens are also presented after eight days only (SubD8O).
Variables
- Individual ID
- Body mass (g)
- Treatment: (submersion day 4 = SubD4; submersion day 8 = SubD8; submersion day 8 optical probe = SubD8O)
- Oxygen consumption rate (μmol O2/hr/g)
The third data set, named "RecoveryCO2", presents the individual identification, the body mass (g), and carbon dioxide production rates (μL CO2/hr/g) of diapausing queens recovery after eight days of continuous submersion. Rates were measured each day from day one (D1) to day seven (D7), except on the sixth day.
Variables
- Individual ID
- Body mass (g)
- Post-recovery day: D1 to D7
- Carbon dioxide production rate (μL CO2/hr/g)
The fourth data set, named "Lactate&Alanine", presents the individual identification, the body mass (g), the treatments (no submersion = PreD1, submerged four days = Sub D4, submerged eight days = Sub D8, and one week after recovery from an eight-day submersion = Post D7), and the whole-body lactate and alanine concentrations (μmol/g).
Variables
- Individual ID
- Body mass (g)
- Treatment: (Presubmersion = PreD1; submersion day 1 = SubD1; submersion day 4 = SubD4; submersion day 8 = SubD8)
- Lactate concentration (μmol/g)
- Alanine concentration (μmol/g)
Code/software
Any program that will open a spreadsheet, such as Excel is recommended.