Habitat Fragmentation Effects on the Orchid Bee Communities in Remnant Forests of Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

The effect of habitat fragmentation on the structure of orchid bee communities was analyzed by the investigation of the existence of a spatial structure in the richness and abundance of Euglossini species and by determining the relationship between these data and environmental factors. The surveys were carried out in four different forest fragments and one university campus. Richness, abundance, and diversity of species were analyzed in relation to abiotic (size of the area, extent of the perimeter, perimeter/area ratio, and shape index) and biotic characteristics (vegetation index of the fragment and of the matrix of each of the locations studied). We observed a highly significant positive correlation between the diversity index and the vegetation index of the fragment, landscape and shape index. Our analysis demonstrated that the observed variation could be explained mainly by the vegetation index and the size of the fragment. Variations in relative abundance showed a tendency toward an aggregated spatial distribution between the fragments studied, as well as between the sampling stations within the same habitat, demonstrating the existence of a spatial structure on a small scale in the populations of Euglossini. This distribution will determine the composition of species that coexist in the area after fragmentation. These data help in understanding the differences and similarities in the structure of communities of Euglossini resulting from forest fragmentation.

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

“…The species composition of the community here studied is similar to those reported by other authors working in areas also covered by seasonal semi-deciduous forests (e.g., Rebêlo & Garófalo, 1991 ;Silveira et al 2011;Knoll & Penatti, 2012;Giangarelli et al, 2015). Nonetheless, even in areas with the same type of vegetation and great similarity in the structure of the communities some differences can be observed.…”

“…Nonetheless, even in areas with the same type of vegetation and great similarity in the structure of the communities some differences can be observed. These differences occur mainly due to the presence or absence of species usually represented by few males and by changes in the relative frequencies of each species in each community, as emphasized by Knoll and Penatti (2012). An example is the data reported by Viotti et al (2013) showing Eg.…”

Influence of landscape structure on Euglossini composition in open vegetation environments

“…Given the importance of Euglossini bees for wild pollination as well as the practicity of its sampling, many studies adopted them as biological models in order to understand how bees in general use their environment and how they can be affected by habitat loss, fragmentation and homogenization in landscapes (Powell & Powell 1987, Tonhasca et al 2002b, Viana et al 2006, Brosi et al 2007, Mendes et al 2008, Brosi 2009, Knoll & Penatti 2012, Silveira et al 2015, Aguiar et al 2015. However, these studies present mixed results, with most of them poorly delineated and conducted in forested environments.…”

“…They are pollinators of many plant species representatives of dozens of botanical families (Dressler 1982, Cameron 2004 and are potentially long-range pollinators that can be important in highly heterogeneous environments such as the neotropical forests (Janzen 1971, Wikelski et al 2010. Although commonly associated with forested environments, these bees are also present in open vegetation types such as the Brazilian savanna, called "Cerrado" (Knoll & Penatti 2012, Silveira et al 2015. The Brazilian savanna is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots and is under great pressure because of agricultural expansion and lack of conservation reserves (Myers et al 2000, Klink & Machado 2005, Bellard et al 2014.…”

Abelhas E Vespa S (Hymenoptera) Como Indicadoras Ecológicas Em Uma Área De Restauração Florestal

“…Existe uma gama de ferramentas que podem ser empregadas para o monitoramento da restauração florestal, aparte das medições diretas das espécies vegetais utilizadas na restauração do habitat, mas também considerando espécies chaves para o sucesso do projeto implementado. Neste contexto, o monitoramento de espécies de abelhas e vespas é adequado e constantemente utilizado (Forup & Memmott 2005, Hopwood 2008, Christie & Hochuli 2009, Exeler et al 2009, Holzschuh et al 2010, Knoll & Penatti 2012, Rutgers-Kelly & Richards 2013, Gonçalves et al 2014.…”