Protecting a managed bee pollinator against climate change: strategies for an area with extreme climatic conditions and socioeconomic vulnerability

Abstract

In the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil, populations of native bees can be jeopardized by future climate change. The present study aims to analyze the impact of climate change on a native stingless bee (Melipona subnitida Ducke). This species is a locally important pollinator of wild and crop plants, also exploited for honey production by regional beekeepers. Using species distributional modeling, we assessed the effects of climate change on the geographic distribution of M. subnitida . We found a potential shift in future areas where species can find climatically suitable habitats toward the edges of the current pollinator distribution with a consequent central disconnection, which can threaten species dispersal and gene flow. We propose to reconnect the remaining suitable areas through conservation and restoration programs based on the distribution of the plant species that are used by this bee as source of pollen and nectar and propose also, other strategies that aim to increase the welfare of local people conservation / economy / landscape ecology / Melipona subnitida / pollination / restoration / sustainability

Landscape genomics to the rescue of a tropical bee threatened by habitat loss and climate change

“…Our findings thus reveal the presence of locally adapted bees, which should be preserved to maintain evolutionary potential (Hoffmann & Sgrò, ; Sgrò, Lowe, & Hoffmann, ). While lowland populations of M. subnitida are expected to shift to higher elevations by 2050 (Supporting Information Figure ), current highland populations are at risk, since highlands will have no climate analogs in the future (Colwell, Brehm, Cardelús, Gilman, & Longino, ; Giannini et al, ). Conservation actions should thus prioritize the protection of current highland populations while improving the connectivity between highlands and lowlands, preserving or restoring foothill and mountain forests (Giannini et al, ).…”

Characterisation of phenolic compounds by UPLC‐QTOF‐MS/MS of geopropolis from the stingless bee Melipona subnitida (jandaíra)

“…In our present study, nine samples of M. subnitida "jandaíra" geopropolis were collected at different times: March 2010 (1), June 2011 (2), January 2012 (3), April 2012 (4), June 2012 (5), April 2013 (6), May 2013 (7) and December 2013 (8) at Sítio Riacho Vieirópolis (a semi-arid region), Paraíba State, Brazil. Sample 9 (collected in January 2010) has already been studied 16,17 and was analysed for comparison of the chemical profile.…”

“…The geopropolis samples (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)200.0 g) were extracted with ethanol in an ultrasound bath. The extract was filtered and concentrated using a rotary evaporator to provide the ethanolic extract (2.0-10.0 g).…”

“…Biodiversity in these areas must withstand long periods of water stress, and there is a relatively high level of endemism, especially of plants and invertebrates. Conservation and restoration strategies aiming to protect biodiversity should consider the types of land use and the socio‐economic development in the region …”

Genetic Characterization of Melipona subnitida Stingless Bee in Brazilian Northeast

“…studies have suggested a shift in the potential occurrence area of M. subnitida and its main resource plant for the near future (Maia et al, 2014;2015;Giannini et al, 2017). Even though the impact of climate change on geographic distribution of this native bee is predictable, studies dedicated to understand how its genetic variability is distributed are still scant.…”