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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

  • Ecology, Behavior and Bionomics
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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.

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Acknowledgments

The authors want to thank Yasmine Antonini for lending some chemical scents; Izabela Moreira Franco, André R.S. Garraffoni, Matheus M. Teixeira Cota, Stéfane Novais Neves, and Cristiana A. Pereira Souza for helping with sampling. We also thank Prof. Dr. André Nemésio for helping with the identification of Euglossina species, providing valuable literature, and reading and commenting on the manuscript, and two anonymous referees for helpful comments. This work was supported by Fundação de Amparo do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG-CBB-APQ-00680-0) and MCTI-Rede ComCerrado (50.6121/2008-09).

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  1. Depto de Ciências Biológicas, Univ Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Diamantina, MG, Brasil

    M A Viotti, F R Moura & A P Lourenço

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  1. M A Viotti
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  2. F R Moura
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  3. A P Lourenço
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Correspondence to A P Lourenço.

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Edited by: Fernando B Noll – UNESP

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Viotti, M.A., Moura, F.R. & Lourenço, A.P. 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. Neotrop Entomol 42, 565–575 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-013-0164-y

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