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Natural populations are composed of individuals that vary in their morphological traits, timing and interactions. The distribution of a trait can be described by several dimensions, or mathematical moments—mean, variance, skew and kurtosis. Shifts in the distribution of a trait across these moments in response to environmental variation can help to reveal which trait values are gained or lost, and consequently how trait filtering processes are altering populations. To examine the role and drivers of intraspecific variation within a trait filtering framework, we investigate variation in body size among five wild bumblebee species in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. First, we examine the relationships between environmental factors (climate and floral food resources) and body size distributions across bumblebee social castes to identify demographic responses to environmental variation. Next, we examine changes in the moments of trait distributions to reveal potential mechanisms behind intraspecific shifts in body size. Finally, we examine how intraspecific body size variation is related to diet breadth and phenology. We found that climate conditions have a strong effect on observed body size variation across all distributional moments, but the filtering mechanism varies by social caste. For example, with earlier spring snowmelt queens declined in mean size and became negatively skewed and more kurtotic. This suggests a skewed filter admitting a greater frequency of small individuals. With greater availability of floral food resources, queens increased in mean size, but workers and males decreased in size. Observed shifts in body size variation also correspond with variation in diet breadth and phenology. Populations with larger average body size were associated with more generalized foraging in workers of short‐tongued species and increased specialization in longer‐tongued workers. Altered phenological timing was associated with species‐ and caste‐specific shifts in skew. Across an assemblage of wild bumblebees, we find complex patterns of trait variation that may not have been captured if we had simply considered mean and variance. The four‐moment approach we employ here provides holistic insight into intraspecific trait variation, which may otherwise be overlooked and reveals potential underlying filtering processes driving such variation within populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Popular tourism destinations are not insulated from climate change variability and vulnerability. Conversely, these destinations also contribute to climate change. Although several studies have investigated the climate change-tourism nexus, there remains limited knowledge regarding tourist perceptions of climate change on popular African destinations. This study examines tourist perceptions of climate change at the Sun City Resort, a popular destination in South Africa attracting both domestic and international tourists all year round. Data were generated from a survey of 278 tourist participants. The data were analysed in JMP Pro generating descriptive statistics to determine variable and response frequencies, and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to examine the relationships, mediations, and associations among key constructs. The results reveal significant associations among climate change awareness, climate change experiences, climate change impacts, and response strategies. Most tourists are familiar with climate change and its existential and potential impacts on the resort. The most prominent weather events include heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and droughts. The impacts include water scarcity, disruption of recreational activities, and destruction of habitats. Low carbon transport systems and green accommodation facilities, carbon friendly activities, investing in climate disaster early warning systems, climate-proofed infrastructure, ensuring facilities and upgrading of disaster rescue operations were highlighted as suitable response strategies. The study concludes that tourists are generally conscious of climate change, and they have knowledge of the necessary actions to ensure popular destination suitability in the face of climate change. The study opens the possibility for crafting destination specific climate action plans that promote destination sustainability.