Species Diversity and Temporal Variation of the Orchid-Bee Fauna (Hymenoptera, Apidae) in a Conservation Gradient of a Rocky Field Area in the Espinhaço Range, State of Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

This study investigated the orchid-bee community in a conservation gradient of the high-altitude rocky fields in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Sampling was performed at two sites with different anthropic influences: a disturbed area (DA), with exotic plant species, and a preserved area (PA). From September 2009 through February 2011, males of euglossine bees were sampled using aromatic bait-traps. We collected a total of 819 specimens belonging to 11 species and three genera: Euglossa Latreille, Eulaema Lepeletier, and Eufriesea Cockerell. Despite the proximity of DA and PA (about 1.2 km), differences in orchid-bee abundance and richness were observed. Higher abundance was observed in the PA (n = 485) compared with the DA (n = 334). Eight species were common to both sites, and only the DA showed exclusive species. The DA showed higher diversity and higher estimated species richness. Euglossa leucotricha Rebêlo & Moure was the most abundant species at both sites followed by Euglossa melanotricha Moure. Higher abundance and richness were found in the warm rainy season. This study contributes to the knowledge of the orchid-bee fauna in the rocky fields and suggests that the greater resource availability in the DA was responsible for the higher orchid-bee diversity.

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

“…In particular, the assembly of bee pollinator communities is strongly influenced by climatic factors as well as variation in food resource availability, which in turn also fluctuates in response to climatic variables (Ramirez et al, 2015). As reported by some authors (Rebêlo & Garófalo, 1991;Silveira et al, 2011;Andrade-Silva et al, 2012;Viotti et al, 2013;Rocha-Filho & Garófalo, 2013) and observed in the present study, species richness showed temporal variation throughout the year, with the highest values being observed during the rainiest months. The variation in species composition and species richness here reported occurred by the presence of males from six species which were sampled only during the rainiest months.…”

“…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. leucotricha, usually represented by few males, as dominant species in a community of high-altitude rocky fields.…”

Orchid bee fauna responds to habitat complexity on a savanna area (Cerrado) in Brazil.

“…The results of the present study, plus those obtained by Viotti et al (2013), Justino and Augusto (2012) Faria and Silveira (2011), Alvarenga et al 2007 andFaria (2004), in other areas of savanna (Cerrado) in Minas Gerais state, revealed a total of 16 orchid bee species for this region. So far there is no list for the orchid bee fauna in the Cerrado of Minas Gerais.…”

“…The species richness in Parque do Rio Preto is higher to those found in other inventories carried out in the Cerrado domain (e.g Nemésio & Faria, 2004;Alvarenga et al, 2007;Justino & Augusto, 2010;Faria & Silveira, 2011;Viotti et al, 2013) and in fragments of the semideciduous "low mountain rain forest", at elevations of 300-900 m, in the Atlantic forest domain (Rebêlo & Garófalo, 1997;Sofia & Suzuki, 2004;Nemésio & Silveira, 2010;Silveira et al, 2011;Ferreira et al, 2013). These forests are characterized by relatively open canopy, 15-25 m tall, and occur under climates with two well defined seasons, rainy and dry.…”

“…It should be notice that the abundance of the three more abundant Euglossa species (E. melanotricha, E. leucotricha and E. securigera) was also higher in sites with LCH when compared with the other species. For E. melanotricha and E. leucotricha, previous studies had demonstrated that these species are much abundant in mosaic of Cerrado and outcrop fields as well as in a mosaic of Cerrado and Eucalyptus plantation (see Faria and Silveira, 2011;Viotti et al, 2013). It should also be considered that mosaic of physiognomies may be favoring the occurrence of orchid bees, as demonstrated by Aguiar et al (2014).…”