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Title: ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY OF EUGLOSSINE BEES IN THE FRAGMENTED LANDSCAPE OF THE BRAZILIAN ATLANTIC FOREST

Author
item TONHASCA, A - UNEF, CAMPOS, BRAZIL
item BLACKMER, JACQUELYN
item ALBUQUERQUE, G - UNEF, CAMPOS, BRAZIL

Submitted to: Biotropica
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/21/2002
Publication Date: 1/31/2003
Citation: TONHASCA, A.J., BLACKMER, J.L., ALBUQUERQUE, G.S. ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY OF EUGLOSSINE BEES IN THE FRAGMENTED LANDSCAPE OF THE BRAZILIAN ATLANTIC FOREST. BIOTROPICA. 2003. v 34(3): 416-422

Interpretive Summary: Male euglossine bees were sampled with chemical baits every two months from September 1997 to July 1999 at nine sites in the Desengano mountain range, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Four sites were located in Atlantic Forest mature second growth, two sites in disturbed forests, and three sites in forest fragments of 200, 156, and 14 ha, respectively. We collected 3653 male euglossine bees from at least 21 species. Statistical analyses indicated no differences among the three habitat types for total number of bees, and for 5 of the 6 dominant species. There was significant variation in species richness and diversity for some sites, but there was no clear indication of differences among habitats. Similarity in bee composition was inversely related to distance between sites, but relatively high for most site combinations. These results suggest that the euglossine bee community in the three habitats was essentially the same. Although some species were associated with each habitat type, most appeared to respond to temporal local conditions. Our results do not support the hypothesis that forest fragmentation or habitat alteration reduces abundance and diversity of euglossine bees.

Technical Abstract: Male euglossine bees were sampled with chemical baits every two months from September 1997 to July 1999 at nine sites in the Desengano mountain range, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Four sites were located in Atlantic Forest mature second growth, two sites in disturbed forests, and three sites in forest fragments of 200, 156, and 14 ha, respectively. We collected 3653 male euglossine bees from at least 21 species. Analyses of variance indicated no differences among the three habitat types for total number of bees, and for 5 of the 6 dominant species. Bootstrapping indicated significant variation in species richness and diversity for some sites, but there was no clear indication of differences among habitats. Similarity as measured with the Morisita-Horn index was inversely related to distance between sites, but relatively high for most site combinations. These results suggest that the euglossine bee community in the three habitats was essentially the same. Although some species were associated with each habitat type, most appeared to respond to temporal local conditions. Our results do not support the hypothesis that forest fragmentation or habitat alteration reduces abundance and diversity of euglossine bees.