Amazonian species within the Cerrado savanna: new records and potential distribution for Aglae caerulea (Apidae: Euglossini)

Abstract

International audienceGiven human-related changes, quality distributional data are required for consistent conservation. Still, the lack of proper biogeographic information is a major setback for many groups. Here, we use new occurrences for Aglae caerulea in the Cerrado to model its potential distribution. We used Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) and Genetic Algorithm for Rule-Set Production (GARP) algorithms in different modeling runs and both previous and new A. caerulea occurrences to predict this species distribution. Models which used only the previous A. caerulea’s records did not predicted the new Cerrado records, while those where we used the latter did predict the new ones as minimally suitable. A. caerulea distribution significantly increased towards the Cerrado according to both MaxEnt and GARP algorithms. Gallery forests are important dispersal alternatives for several species dwelling the Amazon and the Atlantic forest. Niche models of other rare Euglossini bees are advised to better evaluate their distributions

Diversity and Temporal Variation in the Orchid Bee Community (Hymenoptera: Apidae) of a Remnant of a Neotropical Seasonal Semi-deciduous Forest

“…Moreover, the occurrence of Aglae caerulea, a cleptoparasite of Eulaema nests, in the gallery forest of the Vale do Véu de Noiva in the Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Guimaraes was interpreted by Anjos-Silva et al (2006) as the "gateway" of that species to Mato Grosso state. Recently, the role of gallery forests as important dispersal alternatives for several species, including A. caerulea, dwelling the Amazon and the Atlantic Forest was highlighted by Silva et al (2013).…”

First record of Aglae caerulea (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Euglossini) in Brazilian Cerrado east of the Amazon Region, Maranhão State, Brazil

“…The area where the male A. caerulea specimens were found is part of a polygon of possible occurrence, which extends throughout the gallery forests in Pará, Amazonas, Mato Grosso (northern region), and Tocantins states, according to Silva et al (2013) (Figure 2). …”

“…In Brazil, records indicate the presence of A. caerulea in the states of Acre, Amazonas, Amapá, and Pará (Silveira et al, 2002). Recently, its presence was recorded in phytophysiognomic studies of gallery forests within areas of Cerrado in Mato Grosso State, Brazil, where males were attracted and captured in methyl cinnamate baited traps (Anjos- Silva et al, 2006;Silva et al, 2013). Although several entomological surveys have used a variety of chemical baits (Rebêlo and Silva, 1999;Albuquerque et al, 2001;Brito and Rêgo, 2001;Silva andRêbelo, 2002, Carvalho et al, 2006;Mendes et al, 2008;Silva et al, 2009;Silva, 2012), A. caerulea was not previously found in any of the areas studied in Maranhão State.…”

Nesting biology and potential distribution of an oil-collecting Centridine Bee from South America

“…It has been suggested that the highest richness of this subgenus occurs in South America (Snelling 1984;Silveira et al 2002), especially in tropical areas of the north of the subcontinent, where 9 of the 17 known species occur (Moure et al 2007). Nevertheless, the few occurrence records available for C. merrillae could hinder the proper assessment of their distribution ranges and, consequently, field survey optimization and the implementation of practical conservation actions (Whittaker et al 2005;Bini et al 2006;Silva et al 2013). Nonetheless, given the complete lack of distribution estimates, any available potential distribution is useful to propose new areas where field surveys need to be deployed to gain newer information on this species.…”

“…Nonetheless, given the complete lack of distribution estimates, any available potential distribution is useful to propose new areas where field surveys need to be deployed to gain newer information on this species. In this sense, SDMs are being constantly used elsewhere to shed some light on the potential distribution of different species groups, including South American bees (e.g., Raxworthy et al 2003;Almeida et al 2010;Silva et al 2013). Therefore, the different South American areas highlighted in Figure 5 are indicated as suitable for new entomological surveys for the sampling of new occurrences for C. merrillae .…”