Atlantic flower-invertebrate interactions: A data set of occurrence and frequency of floral visits

Encounters between flowers and invertebrates are key events for the functioning of tropical forests. Assessing the structure of networks composed of the interactions between those partners leads to a better understanding of ecosystem functioning and the effects of environmental factors on ecological processes. Gathering such data is, however, costly and time-consuming, especially in the highly diverse tropics. We aimed to provide a comprehensive repository of available flower-invertebrate interaction information for the Atlantic Forest, a South American tropical forest domain. Data were obtained from published works and "gray literature," such as theses and dissertations, as well as self-reports by co-authors. The data set has ~18,000 interaction records forming 482 networks, each containing between one and 1061 interaction links. Each network was sampled for about 200 h or less, with few exceptions. A total of 641 plant genera within 136 different families and 39 orders were reported, with the most abundant and rich families being Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Rubiaceae. Invertebrates interacting with these plants were all arthropods from 10 orders, 129 families, and 581 genera, comprising 2419 morphotypes (including 988 named species). Hymenoptera was the most abundant and diverse order, with at least six times more records than the second-ranked order (Lepidoptera). The complete data set shows Hymenoptera interacting with all plant orders and also shows Diptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Hemiptera to be important nodes. Among plants, Asterales and Fabales had the highest number of interactions. The best sampled environment was forest (~8000 records), followed by pastures and crops. Savanna, grasslands, and urban environments (among others) were also reported, indicating a wide range of approaches dedicated to collecting flower-invertebrate interaction data in the Atlantic Forest domain. Nevertheless, most reported data were from forest understory or lower strata, indicating a knowledge gap about flower-invertebrate interactions at the canopy. Also, access to remote regions remains a limitation, generating sampling bias across the geographical range of the Atlantic Forest. Future studies in these continuous and hard-to-access forested areas will yield important new information regarding the interactions between flowers and invertebrates in the Atlantic Forest. There are no copyright restrictions on the data set. Please cite this data paper if the data are used in publications and teaching events.

What Can Restoration Do for Bee Communities? An Example in the Atlantic Rainforest in Paraná State, Southern Brazil

Biodiversity conservation is a challenge for today. Studies regarding different ecosystems have become extremely important for understanding communities and promoting strategies for conservation, especially those involving forest restoration as strategy to reverse biodiversity loss. We compared bee diversity indices between three remnants of Atlantic rainforest in southern Brazil and four adjacent areas that were reforested after shale mining, and which are now under different restoration levels. Seven sites were monitored for over 5 years (2011-2016), by sampling bees directly on flowers or in flight using an entomological net, with 400 collected individuals/site/year. Bee species composition differed between post-mining ages and between sites. In all, we sampled 14.185 specimens and 236 bee species. The introduced Africanized Apis mellifera Linnaeus was the most frequent and abundant species, followed by Trigona spinipes and Psaenythia bergii Holmberg. Among habitats, the reforested area in initial phase showed lower richness and diversity in relation all others sample sites. Conversely, all indices were higher in forest remnants, middle phase II, and advanced phase reforested areas, reinforcing the importance of reforestation for conservation, notably endangered species, such as Oxytrigona sp., Schwarziana quadripunctata (Lepeletier), and the solitary species of the genus Hylaeus, all found in the restored areas. These results represent an important contribution for understanding the recovery of the bee fauna in restored mining habitats. The dataset reveals an interesting response in areas that were mined for shale extraction and are now undergoing different levels of restoration, suggesting that older reforested habitats have a higher probability of having a fully recovered bee community.

The bee fauna (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) in Cerrado and Cerrado-Amazon Rainforest transition sites in Tocantins state, Northern Region of Brazil

Abstract: Two sites located in Tocantins State, Brazil, were selected for the bee’s community survey. One of them was mostly covered by Cerrado vegetation and the other one is located in the Cerrado-Amazon Rainforest ecotone. Five expeditions were performed in each site throughout a 12-month period, between 2019 and 2020. The total of 771 bee specimens were collected and distributed into four families. Apidae presented the greatest species abundance and richness, it was followed by Halictidae, Megachilidae and Andrenidae, respectively. Trigona pallens (Fabricius) (Apidae) was the species presenting the greatest abundance in both sites, it totaled 118 specimens, which corresponded to 26.9% of the total abundance of individuals belonging to tribe Meliponini. In general, the community presented several species with few individuals and few species with many individuals. Bee collections were performed by using three different methodologies, among them one finds sampling based on the entomological net method, which allowed collecting the largest number of both individuals and species in comparison to the other used methods. Based on the frequency and abundance classes, only few species were classified as very frequent (VF) and very abundant (VA) in both sites based on the frequency and abundance classes. Most species were constant (W) in both regions, and there was a small number of dominant species (D); moreover, more than 70% of the sampled species were considered accidental (Z). According to the present study, either Cerrado or Cerrado-Amazon Rainforest studied sites presented higher species richness than other sites in these biomes sampled in Brazil.

Spatial distribution of apiaries in the municipality of Ribeira do Pombal, Bahia, Brazil

The number of beehives installed per apiary should take into account the potential of bee pasture, the existence of nearby apiaries and ease of management. The study aimed to analyze the spatial distribution of apiaries in the municipality of Ribeira do Pombal, State of Bahia, Brazil, in order to estimate the production of honey per apiary based on the relationship between the number of hives established and the distance between apiaries. For the analysis of spacing, a image of the municipality was acquired by the Landsat-8 satellite and the location points of the georeferenced apiaries. The apiaries were grouped into Classes according to the number of hives: <25 hives.apiary-1 (I), 25-30 (II) and> 30 hives.apiary-1 (III). The apiaries were projected on a map with 1,500 m buffer corresponding to the radius of action of the bees’ flight. A total of 7,198 hives were computed in 290 apiaries distributed in classes: I (47.58%), II (23.45%) and III (28.96%). There were 4.14% apiaries without overlap; and class I apiaries (97%) showed greater overlap. We recommend zoning the beekeeping potential and planning the distribution of apiaries in order to meet the carrying capacity, logistical optimization and for higher productive yield.

Negative impacts of dominance on bee communities: Does the influence of invasive honey bees differ from native bees?

Invasive species can reach high abundances and dominate native environments. One of the most impressive examples of ecological invasions is the spread of the African subspecies of the honey bee throughout the Americas, starting from its introduction in a single locality in Brazil. The invasive honey bee is expected to more negatively impact bee community abundance and diversity than native dominant species, but this has not been tested previously. We developed a comprehensive and systematic bee sampling scheme, using a protocol deploying 11,520 pan traps across regions and crops for three years in Brazil. We found that invasive honey bees are now the single most dominant bee species. Such dominance has not only negative consequences for abundance and species richness of native bees but also for overall bee abundance (i.e., strong "numerical" effects of honey bees). Contrary to expectations, honey bees did not have stronger negative impacts than other native bees achieving similar levels of dominance (i.e., lack of negative "identity" effects of honey bees). These effects were markedly consistent across crop species, seasons and years, and were independent from land-use effects. Dominance could be a proxy of bee community degradation and more generally of the severity of ecological invasions.

Does a coffee plantation host potential pollinators when it is not flowering? Bee distribution in an agricultural landscape with high biological diversity in the Brazilian Campo Rupestre

BACKGROUND

Natural environments within agricultural landscapes have been recognized as reservoirs of biodiversity and, therefore, providers of fundamental ecosystem services to human beings. Bees are the main providers of pollination and thus contribute to the production of food consumed worldwide. In this work, we evaluated the distribution of bees in an agricultural landscape of coffee plantation before and after coffee flowering. We aimed at understanding how richness, abundance and composition of bee communities vary among the different vegetation types within and around the coffee crops.

RESULTS

A total of 638 bees were collected - 312 in the dry season and 326 in the rainy season - totaling 85 species. The sampling methods collected different species, which provided complementary sampling. Only Euglossa leucotricha and Eulaema nigrita were recurrent in both seasons and vegetation types. There was no temporal difference in richness or abundance; however, both varied in relation to the vegetation type and were higher in the coffee-native transition area. Diverging from richness or abundance, the composition of the communities differed regarding season and vegetation types.

CONCLUSION

We reinforce the importance of maintaining native vegetation in areas surrounding coffee plantations since the crop poorly hosts pollinators when it is not flowering. Natural and semi-natural areas may act as reservoirs of floral visitors, thus maintaining potential cross-pollination services available to coffee production. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

A new species of Ceratina (Ceratinula) Moure, 1941, with notes on the taxonomy and distribution of Ceratina (Ceratinula) manni Cockerell, 1912, and an identification key for species of this subgenus known from Brazil (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Ceratinini)

A new species of the small carpenter bee, genus Ceratina (Ceratinula) Moure, from the Cerrado Biome in midwestern Brazil is described and illustrated. Ceratina (Ceratinula) fioreseana Oliveira, sp. nov. is easily distinguished from its congeners by the size of the facial maculations and the honey-yellow color of the legs and antennal scape, which distinguish it especially from Ceratina (Ceratinula) manni Cockerell, 1912, the most similar species in terms of facial maculation patterns. The geographic records of C.manni, here interpreted as endemic to the semiarid Caatinga region in northeastern Brazil, are presented, with new records for the Brazilian states of Piauí, Ceará and Bahia. A morphological description of both species is provided, including a comparison with the type specimen of C.manni from the state of Paraíba (Guarabira, formerly named Independencia). An identification key is provided for the described species of Ceratina (Ceratinula) recorded for Brazil according to Moure’s Catalogue of Neotropical Bees.

The real taxonomic identity of Trigona latitarsis Friese, 1900, with notes on type specimens (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

The taxonomic history of Trigonalatitarsis Friese, 1900 and its clarification based on the observation of the types and literature data are treated in this study. The paper discusses the validity of the previously proposed lectotype, deposited in the ZMB (Berlin, Germany). Based on the type series deposited in HNHM (Budapest, Hungary) as well as the original description, a new lectotype and 15 paralectotypes from Amazon forest (São Paulo de Olivença, Amazonas) are designated. Data on the geographic distribution of Scauralatitarsis (Friese, 1900) are provided.

A new Chlerogelloides from northeastern Brazil and French Guiana, with a key to the species (Hymenoptera, Halictidae)

A third species of the rare augochlorine bee genus Chlerogelloides Engel et al. (Halictinae, Augochlorini) is described and figured. Chlerogelloides nexosasp. n. is most similar to the type species, Chlerogelloides femoralis Engel et al., in that both have modified midlegs in the males. The former, however, can be distinguished on the basis of its terminalia, which in some respects more closely resembles those of Chlerogelloides simplex Engel and Brooks. Brief comments on the secondary features of males and relationships of the genus are provided. A key to the species of the genus is provided and floral records of Cordia nodosa Lam. (Boraginaceae) and Gonzalagunia dicocca Cham. & Schltdl. (Rubiaceae) are noted.

A new species of Chilicola from Bahia, Brazil (Hymenoptera, Colletidae), with a key to the species of the megalostigma group

The bee genus Chilicola Spinola (Xeromelissinae) is recorded from the State of Bahia, Brazil for the first time, based on a new species of the megalostigma group of the subgenus Hylaeosoma Ashmead. Chilicola (Hylaeosoma) kevanisp. n. is described and figured from males collected in Wesceslau Guimarães, Bahia. The species can be distinguished on the basis of coloration, size, integumental sculpturing, and structure of the hidden metasomal sterna and genitalia. A revised key to the species of the megalostigma group is provided.

A new species of Centris ( Centris) (Fabricius) from northeastern Brazil, with taxonomic notes on C. ( C.) pulchra Moure, Oliveira & Viana (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

We describe a new species of the bee genus Centris, Centris (Centris) byrsonimae Mahlmann & Oliveira sp. n., whose name has appeared as a nomen nudum in the literature since 1985. Further, a new species group of Centris s.str. is proposed, the pulchra group, based on morphological characters, which comprises the species Centris pulchra Moure, Oliveira & Viana, 2003 and Centris byrsonimaesp. n..Based on information from specimen labels studied and data from the literature, a list of plant species visited by the pulchra group is presented. The male genitalia and hidden metasomal sterna 7 and 8 of Centris pulchra are described for the first time. Typographic errors pertaining to the paratype labels reported in the original description of Centris pulchra are corrected. One female paratype of Centris pulchra is designated herein as a paratype of Centris byrsonimaesp. n. An updated list of species of Centris s.str. from northeastern Brazil is provided including references about geographic distributions as well as an identification key to the pulchra species group.

The identity of the Neotropical stingless bee Frieseomelitta meadewaldoi (Cockerell, 1915) (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

A new study of a surviving syntype of Trigona meadewaldoi Cockerell, 1915, was undertaken and several widely employed names for Neotropical stingless bees recognized as junior synonyms. A lectotype is designated for Trigona meadewaldoi and the following new synonymies established: Tetragona francoi Moure, 1946, and Trigona (Frieseomelitta) freiremaiai Moure, 1963. These nomenclatural matters are here settled and the species thoroughly characterized in advance of a forthcoming phylogenetic consideration of the genus Frieseomelitta von Ihering, 1912.

A fauna apícola do Parque Municipal da Cachoeirinha (Iporá, GO)

As abelhas possuem grande importância econômica e ecológica, em vista de sua dependência dos recursos florais como o pólen e o néctar (principais fontes de proteínas e energia, respectivamente), representando cerca de 40 a 90% dos agentes polinizadores de fanerógamas em diversos ecossistemas. No presente trabalho, foi realizado o inventário apícola do Parque Municipal da Cachoeirinha (Iporá, GO). Foram realizadas 58 horas de coleta no total, realizadas nos meses de novembro/dezembro de 2004 e março e maio de 2005. Foi coletado um total de 933 indivíduos, distribuídos em uma família, 16 tribos, 33 gêneros e 62 espécies. A tribo Meliponini foi a mais abundante em número de indivíduos e espécies. As espécies mais abundantes foram Trigona chanchamayoensis (16,51%), Tetragona clavipes (14,79%) e Apis mellifera e Trigona recursa (12,33%). Este trabalho apresenta a primeira ocorrência no estado de Goiás para seis gêneros e 12 espécies.