Pollen niche of Melipona

Monthly corbicular samples derived from weekly collections of Melipona (Melikerria) interrupta (Apidae: Meliponini) were analyzed alongside a single honey sample between January to December 2012. The botanical families Arecaceae, Melastomataceae and Solanaceae were the most representative in the corbicular load samples, with five temporary specialization events (>90%) being detected for representatives of Melastomataceae and Solanaceae. Furthermore, Melastomataceae also exhibited a greater contribution of pollen types in the honey samples, particularly because of the occurrence of Miconia type (87.17%), followed by Solanaceae, represented by types Solanum stramonifolium (5.00%) and Solanum aculeatissimum (2.50%). The low richness of pollen types in the corbicular pollen samples (n = 16) in this study suggests that M. interrupta may act as a specialist due to the low availability of apiculture resources in terra-firme environments, where intraspecific competition might affect not only the maintenance of these colonies in this environment but also their honey production. © 2017 AASP–The Palynological Society

Pollen morphology of 25 species in the family Apocynaceae from the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve, Amazonas, Brazil

The Apocynaceae family consists of approximately 4555 species worldwide, distributed among 415 genera. In Brazil, this family is represented by 90 genera and 850 species. The Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve, part of the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA) since 1963, comprises 100 km2 of non-isolated continuous primary forest, and 40 species and 16 genera of Apocynaceae have been recorded in this area. Pollen grains, collected from flower buds and/or flowers of voucher specimens deposited at the INPA Herbarium collection, were processed using the acetolysis method, and measured, described and photographed by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The study included 25 Apocynaceae species distributed among 14 genera. The pollen grains were porate to colporate, with exine ornamentation varying from psilate or scabrate to microreticulate. Other morphological characteristics were pores with granules at the base of the annulus in Odontadenia, a distinct margo forming arches around the colpus in Geissospermum, and the presence of a thick endocingulum in the equatorial region in species of Tabernaemontana. © 2016 AASP–The Palynological Society