No abstract

No abstract

et al.. The larval provisions of the crop pollinator Centris analis: pollen spectrum and trophic niche breadth in an agroecosystem.Abstract -This study aimed to characterize the importance of the sources of floral resource used by Centris analis to provision nests in acerola orchards (the West Indian cherry, Malpighia emarginata). Thirty-six pollen types were recognized in larval provisions, of which the most frequently found were M. emarginata (76 %), Cajanus cajan (11 %), Chamaecrista type 1 (3 %), and Solanum paniculatum (3 %). The pollen-type M. emarginata was registered in 98 % of the brood cells, with monthly frequencies from 30 to 99 %. The trophic niche breadth (H′) of the larvae of C. analis was 1.24, with monthly variations from 0.04 to 1.44. The richness of pollen types found in larval provisions of C. analis may be considered high compared to results obtained in other agrosystems with cultivated acerola. The high relative frequency of the pollen-type M. emarginata strongly affected trophic niche breadth and equitativity in the use of food resources. This crop provides floral resources (pollen and floral oils) needed by the pollinator C. analis throughout the year in the region. entomopalynology / floral resources / solitary bees / Centridini / crop pollinator

This paper aims to identify the botanical origin of pollen loads collected by Apis mellifera L. in Canavieiras municipality, Bahia state. It provides a list of polliniferous plant species from the Atlantic Forest biome that are important for the development of regional apiculture. Using the acetolysis method, 35 bee-pollen samples were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Results showed that pollen types Elaeis (23.99%), Mimosa pudica (22.78%) and Cecropia (13.68%) were the most abundant among the samples. These also showed the highest relative frequencies of the material studied and were important pollen sources for bees in the study area.

Abstract. Knowing the floral origin of the pollen collected by native bees in Neotropical ecosystems enables us to understand the dynamics of the interdependent relationships between the insects and the native flora. The objectives of this study were to: (i) investigate the spectrum of plant species from which pollen is collected by Tetragonisca angustula in caatinga (dry vegetation) areas in the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil; (ii) identify pollen types that could be used as regional geographical markers and (iii) determine the pollen niche breadth and the pattern of use of floral resources by this stingless bee. In total, 23 samples of the pollen stored by T. angustula were collected monthly and subjected to acetolysis. Of the 45 pollen types identified that of Prosopis juliflora (Fabaceae) and Solanum (Solanaceae) were the most frequently represented in the samples and 19 were collected by the bees at both study sites. Species characteristic of caatinga, such as Poincianella pyramidalis (Tulasne) L.P. Queiroz and Senna macranthera (de Candolle ex Colladon) H.S. Irwin & Barneby, were among the pollen identified and they were used as indicators of the geographical origin of the samples. The average values of the pollen niche breadth (H') and equitability (J') indicate that T. angustula is a generalist and homogeneous forager of the floral resources in caatinga.

No abstract

No abstract

Understanding pollen germination is of great importance for breeding and conservation. We present a protocol for evaluating culture media for germination of pollen of Elaeis guineensis. Samples were collected in the municipality of Nilo Pec ßanha (State of Bahia, Brazil). A solution of aniline blue in lactophenol was used to determine viability of pollen grains. Two alternative culture media to evaluate germination rates of pollen grains were tested: M1, Brewbaker and Kwack medium; and M2, BCa medium, with addition of boron and calcium. Both media were used with 20% sucrose at pH 6.5. The pollen grains were dried at room temperature in silica gel for 4 h and later placed on slides containing culture media, kept in a Petri dish with filter paper wetted with distilled water and stored in chamber at 30°C for 24 h. The greatest viability rate was 94% for fresh pollen grains. Highest germination rates were 26 and 64% for M1 and M2, respectively. There was no positive correlation between viability and germination for either M1 or M2 (Pearson's and Spearman's correlation, respectively). Dried pollen on BCa medium (M2) is useful for in vitro germination experiments of E. guineensis given appropriate concentration of sucrose and ions, pH, temperature and incubation time and in the absence of light.