Genetic variability in five populations of Partamona helleri (Hymenoptera, Apidae) from Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Partamona is a Neotropical genus of stingless bees that comprises 33 species distributed from Mexico to southern Brazil. These bees are well-adapted to anthropic environments and build their nests in several substrates. In this study, 66 colonies of Partamona helleri from five localities in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais (São Miguel do Anta, Teixeiras, Porto Firme, Viçosa and Rio Vermelho) were analyzed using nine microsatellite loci in order to assess their genetic variability. Low levels of observed (Ho = 0.099-0.137) and expected (H e = 0.128-0.145) heterozygosity were encountered and revealed discrete genetic differentiation among the populations (F ST = 0.025). AMOVA further showed that most of the total genetic variation (94.24%) in P. helleri was explained by the variability within local populations

Comparative study on the use of specific and heterologous microsatellite primers in the stingless bees Melipona rufiventris and M. mondury (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Due to their high degree of polymorphism, microsatellites are considered useful tools for studying population genetics. Nevertheless, studies of genetic diversity in stingless bees by means of these primers have revealed a low level of polymorphism, possibly the consequence of the heterologous primers used, since in most cases these were not specifically designed for the species under consideration. Herein we compared the number of polymorphic loci and alleles per locus, as well as observed heterozygosity in Melipona rufiventris and M. mondury populations, using specific and heterologous primers. The use of specific primers placed in evidence the greater frequency of polymorphic loci and alleles per locus, besides an expressive increase in observed heterozygosity in M. rufiventris and M. mondury, thereby reinforcing the idea that populational studies should be undertaken by preferably using species-specific microsatellite primers

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the stingless bee Melipona interrupta manaosensis (Apidae: Meliponini)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Melipona interrupta manaosensis is an important pollinator in the Neotropics. This stingless bee is reared by locals for honey production and also for conservation purposes. Eleven microsatellite markers were isolated from M. i. manaosensis and characterized in 32 individuals from the Meliponary of the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia, Manaus, AM, Brazil. The number of alleles observed for each locus ranged from 2 to 5 (average 2.77). The polymorphism information content (PIC) varied between 0.08 to 0.62 (average 0.34) and the discriminating power (D) ranged from 0.61 to 0.99 (average 0.85). The observed heterozygosity (HO) and the expected heterozygosity (HE) ranged from 0.04 to 1.00 and 0.04 to 0.67, respectively. These microsatellites will be useful for future genetic studies of M. i. manaosensis populations and correlated species contributing with Amazon biodiversity preservation.212730Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundacaode Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas (FAPEAM)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES