Genetics of Euglossini bees (Hymenoptera) in fragments of the Atlantic Forest in the region of Viçosa, MG

Abstract

With uncontrolled deforestation, forest fragments remain, which in most cases are in different stages of regeneration and present isolated populations. In the present study we analyzed the genetic patterns of Eulaema nigrita populations in seven Atlantic Forest fragments of different sizes and successional stages in the region of Viçosa, MG. This was done by RAPD molecular markers. We observed that the area of the fragments had no effect on the genetic variability of E. nigrita in the direction predicted by meta-population models. Medium-sized well-preserved woods presented the lowest variability, whereas large and small woods were statistically identical. The evidence supports the notion that rural areas present greater dispersal among fragments, implying greater similarity between the populations of fragments located in rural areas when compared to fragments in urban areas.

Functional connectivity and genetic diversity of Eulaema atleticana (Apidae, Euglossina) in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Corridor: assessment of gene flow

“…, Waldschmidt et al . , Aguiar ). This lack of correlation would be expected in Eulaema nigrita , whose abundances are normally not affected by the habitats area and type ( e.g., Aguiar , Ramalho et al .…”

“…Sofia & Suzuki 2004, Darrault et al 2006, Brosi 2009, Ramalho et al 2009, Nem esio & Silveira 2010, Aguiar & Gaglianone 2012. The genetic drift are expected to cause the loss of genetic diversity and alleles fixation within each population as they become smaller due to forest fragmentation (Frankham et al 2002, Freeland 2005, Zayed 2009 Lepeletier, 1841) reported no relationship between the forest fragment area and genetic diversity (e.g., Sofia et al 2005, Waldschmidt et al 2005, Aguiar 2011). This lack of correlation would be expected in Eulaema nigrita, whose abundances are normally not affected by the habitats area and type (e.g., Aguiar 2011, Ramalho et al 2013), but it would not be expected in Eulaema cingulata, Eufriesea violacea, and E. atleticana, that usually have lower abundances in smaller forest fragments (e.g., Aguiar 2011, Ramalho et al 2013.…”

Population structure and genetic diversity of the orchid bee Eufriesea violacea (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Euglossini) from Atlantic Forest remnants in southern and southeastern Brazil

“…Studies on population genetic structure of euglossine bees carried out in a regional scale have reported absence of population structuring (Sofia et al 2005;Waldschmidt et al 2005; Rocha Filho 2011) or low levels of genetic differentiation between populations (Cerântola et al 2011). These findings have been attributed to the high capability of euglossine to disperse, especially males (Sofia et al 2005;Waldschmidt et al 2005;Cerântola et al 2011;Rocha Filho 2011).…”

“…Studies on population genetic structure of euglossine bees carried out in a regional scale have reported absence of population structuring (Sofia et al 2005;Waldschmidt et al 2005; Rocha Filho 2011) or low levels of genetic differentiation between populations (Cerântola et al 2011). These findings have been attributed to the high capability of euglossine to disperse, especially males (Sofia et al 2005;Waldschmidt et al 2005;Cerântola et al 2011;Rocha Filho 2011). Concerning our results on genetic differentiation levels, revealed by both estimators (Φ ST and D est ), while the measures of Φ ST were indicative that samples of E. violacea constitute subpopulations exhibiting from low to moderate genetic differentiation among them (see Hartl and Clark 1997), Jost's estimator (D est ) indicated from low to very high genetic differentiation between pairs of subpopulations.…”