Pollen Sources Used by Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille, 1811) (Apidae, Meliponini) in the Atlantic Forest, Northern Coast of Bahia

Stingless bees are important floral visitors in tropical ecosystems and through pollination, play a key role in maintaining biodiversity and perpetuating native plant species. In this context, knowledge about the flora used by stingless bees is essential to promote their conservation in natural environments. This study had the objective of analyzing the pollen stored by Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille, 1811) in an Atlantic Forest area. A total of 27 pollen samples were collected from six colonies from April 2013 to March 2014. The samples were processed using acetolysis, in which pollen types were identified, photomicrographs and their frequency values were estimated. The most representative pollen types had their pollen morphology described. The analysis of the pollen sediment revealed 53 pollen types, three of which were indeterminate and the others belonged to 26 families. Among the registered pollen types, only 13 (distributed in ten families) showed frequency values over 10% in the analyzed samples, in which the majority presented a pollen morphology classified as microreticulated and tricolporate small monads. The pollen types Byrsonima (with frequency between 0.05 to 82.79%, which was recorded throughout the entire study period), Tapirira guianensis (0.92 to 55.65%), and Cecropia (0.24 to 49.32%), stood out as an important source of trophic resources for the maintenance and survival of T. angustula in an Atlantic Forest area. In addition, this study highlights the importance of palynological analysis for the knowledge of trophic resources used by stingless bees

Sazonalidade no nicho trófico da abelha-sem-ferrão Frieseomelitta meadewaldoi (Cockerell, 1915) (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Pollen samples collected by Frieseomelitta meadewaldoi were analyzed to determine the plants used and their pollen frequency and diversity, and thus test whether there is a correlation between its diversity with temperature or rainfall. In the rainy season, F. meadewaldoi explored 27 floral sources, with greater richness of pollen types from Fabaceae and Myrtaceae. In the dry season, 34 pollen types were recorded, with a great richness associated with Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, Anacardiaceae, and Myrtaceae. Sources of important floral resources and temporary specialization events occurred in both seasons, mainly Coutobea, Eucalyptus, Ligaria teretiflora, Mimosa pudica, Mollugo verticillata, Myrcia, Richardia grandiflora, and Tapirira guianensis. There was no correlation between the diversity of pollen resources and temperature or rainfall, as it depends on the availability of sources of floral resources. Thus, pollen diversity did not differ between months or seasons, as F. meadewaldoi foraging is similar throughout the year.Muestras de polen de Frieseomelitta meadewaldoi fueron analizadas para determinación de las plantas utilizadas y sus respectivas frecuencias de ocurrencia y diversidad, y así evaluar si existe correlación entre la diversidad de recursos con la temperatura y la pluviosidad. En la estación lluviosa, F. meadewaldoi visitó 27 fuentes florales, con mayor riqueza de tipos polínicos de Fabaceae y Myrtaceae. En la estación seca, fueron registrados 34 tipos polínicos, con mayor riqueza asociada a Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, Anacardiaceae y Myrtaceae. Fuentes de recursos florales importantes y eventos de especialización temporaria ocurrieron en ambas estaciones, con destaque para Coutobea, Eucalyptus, Ligaria teretiflora, Mimosa pudica, Mollugo, verticillata, Myrcia, Richardia grandiflora y Tapirira guianensis. No hubo correlación entre las diversidades de recurso polínico y la temperatura o la pluviosidad, pues depende de la disponibilidad de fuentes de recursos florales. Así, esa diversidad no difirió entre los meses o estaciones, pues el forrajeo de F. meadewaldoi es semejante a lo largo del año.Amostras de pólen de Frieseomelitta meadewaldoi foram analisadas para determinação das plantas utilizadas e respectivas frequências de ocorrência e diversidade, e assim testar se há correlação entre a diversidade de recursos com a temperatura ou a pluviosidade. Na estação chuvosa, F. meadewaldoi explorou 27 fontes florais, com maior riqueza de tipos polínicos de Fabaceae e Myrtaceae. Na estação seca, foram registrados 34 tipos polínicas, com maior riqueza associada a Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, Anacardiaceae e Myrtaceae. Fontes de recursos florais importantes e eventos de especialização temporária ocorreram em ambas as estações, com destaque para Coutobea, Eucalyptus, Ligaria teretiflora, Mimosa pudica, Mollugo verticillata, Myrcia, Richardia grandiflora e Tapirira guianensis. Não houve correlação entre diversidade de recursos polínicos e a temperatura ou pluviosidade, pois depende da disponibilidade de fontes de recursos florais. Assim, essa diversidade não diferiu entre os meses ou estações, pois o forrageio de F. meadewaldoi é semelhante ao longo do ano

Flora de interesse meliponícola em um fragmento de Mata Atlântica no litoral norte da Bahia, Brasil

The present study had as main objective to know the trophic resources, flowering and floral visitors around a meliponary, located in an Atlantic Forest fragment on the north coast of Bahia, Brazil. Angiosperms occurring in the area were marked, photographed, collected, herborized, identified and deposited in the HUNEB herbarium. Eighty species were identified, belonging to 69 genera and 31 families, with Asteraceae / Fabaceae (11) and Rubiaceae (8) being the most representative in number of species. Among them, 30 (37.5%) had their flowers visited by meliponines and presented flowers throughout the study period: Borreria verticillata (L.) G.Mey., Conocliniopsis prasiifolia (DC.) R.M.King & H.Rob., Commelina erecta L., Mimosa pudica L., Richardia grandiflora (Cham. & Schltdl.) Steud. and Turnera subulata Sm. Herbaceous vegetation was the most representative (53.33%), and nectar represented 56.67% of the trophic resource available to these bees, contributing to the knowledge of bee pasture for the bee guild in the study area.El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo principal conocer los recursos tróficos, floración y visitantes florales en el entorno de un meliponario, situado en un fragmento de Mata Atlántica en el litoral norte de Bahia, Brasil. Las Angiospermas presentes en el área fueron marcadas, fotografiadas, colectadas, herborizadas, identificadas y depositadas en el herbario HUNEB. Fueron identificadas 80 especies, pertenecientes a 69 géneros y 31 familias, siendo Asteraceae/Fabaceae (11) y Rubiaceae (8) las más representativas en número de especies. Entre estas, 30 (37.5%) fueron visitadas por meliponinos y presentaron floración durante todo el periodo estudiado: Borreria verticillata (L.) G.Mey., Conocliniopsis prasiifolia (DC.) R.M.King & H.Rob., Commelina erecta L., Mimosa pudica L., Richardia grandiflora (Cham. & Schltdl.) Steud. y Turnera subulata Sm. La vegetación herbácea fue la más representativa (53.33%) y el néctar representó 56.67% del recurso trófico disponible para estas abejas, contribuyendo para el conocimiento de la flora apícola para la industria de abejas en el área de estudio.Objetivou-se conhecer os recursos tróficos, florescimento e visitantes florais no entorno de um meliponário, em um fragmento de Mata Atlântica, litoral norte da Bahia, Brasil. As plantas floridas foram marcadas, fotografadas, coletadas, herborizadas, identificadas e depositadas no HUNEB. Foram identificadas 80 espécies vegetais, pertencentes a 69 gêneros e 31 famílias, sendo Asteraceae/Fabaceae (11) e Rubiaceae (oito) as mais representativas em número de espécies. Dessas plantas, (37,5%) tiveram suas flores visitadas por meliponíneos, e ainda as espécies Borreria verticillata (L.) G.Mey., Conocliniopsis prasiifolia (DC.) R.M.King & H.Rob., Commelina erecta L., Mimosa pudica L., Richardia grandiflora (Cham. & Schltdl.) Steud. e Turnera subulata Sm. apresentaram flores durante todo o período estudado. A vegetação herbácea (53,33%) foi a mais representativa, e o néctar representou 56,67% do recurso disponível a essas abelhas, contribuindo para o conhecimento do pasto apícola para guilda dessas abelhas na área de estudo. &nbsp

RESIDUAL POLLEN IN NESTS OF CENTRIS ANALIS (HYMENOPERA, APIDAE, CENTRIDINI) IN AN AREA OF CAATINGA VEGETATION FROM BRAZIL

Neste trabalho são apresentados dados sobre o pólen estocado em ninhos de Centris analis, uma espécie de abelha nativa candidata ao manejo com vistas à polinização de fruteiras. Este tipo de informação é fundamental para o desenvolvimento de sistemas de manejo de polinizadores. A amostragem foi conduzida em vegetação de caatinga hiperxerófila arbustiva, na Estação Biológica de Canudos (EBC), ecorregião do Raso da Catarina, Bahia, Brasil. O espectro polínico presente nos ninhos de C. analis foi estudado a partir da análise do resíduo do pólen presente nas paredes das células de cria e nas fezes incorporadas aos casulos. O espectro polínico total nos ninhos (n=5) de C. analis foi composto por seis tipos polínicos, dos quais Byrsonima vacciniifolia (45,98%) e Chamaecrista ramosa (44,73%) tiveram maiores médias de freqüência de ocorrência. Os tipos C. ramosa, B. vacciniifolia e Banisteriopsis muricata podem ser apontados como fontes de pólen importantes para C. analis na caatinga da EBC. O tipo polínico Rhaphiodon echinus provavelmente indica uma fonte de néctar regularmente utilizada por C. analis naquele período. C. analis utilizou apenas uma fração dos recursos disponíveis. As fontes de recursos florais registradas neste estudo na Estação Biológica de Canudos são novos registros de plantas alimento de C. analis para a região do semiárido brasileiro

Pollen morphology of Waltheria L. (Malvaceae-Byttnerioideae) from Bahia, Brazil

ABSTRACT Waltheria encompasses about 60 species distributed in Brazil and Mexico. To improve the palynology of the genus, we analyzed 14 species occurring in the Brazilian State of Bahia. Pollen grains were acetolyzed and examined using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Non-acetolyzed pollen grains were viewed by transmission electron microscopy. The results revealed two general pollen types based on exine ornamentation, such as reticulate and echinate, which are distinct with regard to (1) size and shape, (2) apertural type and number, (3) relative length of ectoapertures, and (4) thickening of the nexine compared to the sexine. An ultrastructural analysis of the pollen wall revealed a continuous foot layer and a compact and discontinuous endexine in most cases. The sexine consisted of heterogeneous columellae, which support a perforated semitectum (echinate type) or the semitectum was composed of perforations and muri-shaped thickening (reticulate type). These results confirm a high degree of pollen dimorphism in Waltheria associated with heterostyly

Pollen types used by Centris (Hemisiella) tarsata Smith (1874) (Hymenoptera, Apidae) in the provisioning of brood cells in an area of Caatinga

The aim of this study was to identify, by sediment pollen analysis, the plant species used as floral resources for the provisioning of brood cells in Centris (Hemisiella) tarsata, in an area of Caatinga, within the municipality of Nova Soure, Bahia State, Brazil. The analysis of pollen contents from three brood cells revealed 11 pollen types, corresponding to four botanical families. Malpighiaceae was represented most, followed by Leguminosae, Ochnaceae, and Solanaceae, the latter two represented by just a single pollen type each. On the basis of the percentages in the samples, it was possible to infer that C. tarsata visited distinct plants, but intensified its pollen collection in species related to Aeschynomene martii and Solanum paniculatumpollen types, which are considered the most important pollen sources in the larval diet of this bee. In addition to the pollen sources, we have also recorded seven pollen types regarded as oil ones, all related to the Malpighiaceae family. The information about the resources for C. tarsata can be of great relevance, in view of the importance of these bees in the pollination of native flora

Palinologia de espécies de Mimosa L. (Leguminosae - Mimosoideae) do Semi-Árido brasileiro

O estudo palinológico de Mimosa L. teve por finalidade caracterizar as espécies do gênero ocorrentes na vegetação de caatinga do Nordeste brasileiro. Foram examinadas 39 espécies que tiveram seus grãos de pólen acetolisados, medidos, descritos e ilustrados sob microscopia óptica e eletrônica de varredura. Os resultados permitiram reconhecer seis tipos polínicos e dois subtipos com base na unidade de dispersão. Foi registrada a ocorrência de díades (M. adenophylla Taub., M. ursina Mart.) e mônades (M. ursina Mart.). A morfologia polínica das espécies (Mimosa lepidophora Rizzini e Mimosa pithecolobioides Benth.) Mimosa-Mimadenia mostrou similaridade com grupo Piptadenia enquanto a diversidade polínica observada em Mimosa-Batocaulon indicou o polimorfismo do grupo

First report of modern pollen deposition in moss polsters in a semiarid area of Bahia, Brazil

Recent studies have shown that pollen analyses of natural substrates can produce data valuable for understanding the local pollen productivity and dispersal, deposition, and preservation potential of pollen grains. In this study, we aimed to acquire novel information about the dynamics and preservation of pollen in Caatinga environment through the palynological study of moss polsters. Samples of moss polsters in soil (MPS) and on rock (MPR) were collected from the Canudos Biological Station in the Bahia State (Brazil) and subjected to standard chemical treatments for the extraction of pollen residues. In total, 372 pollen types were recorded from the samples of which the taxonomical affinity of 140 was determined. The most represented families were Fabaceae (23 pollen types/16.42%) and Asteraceae (12 pollen types/8.57%). The MPS samples had a higher pollen concentration (21,042.04 pollen grains/cm²) than the MPR samples (7,829.35 pollen grains/cm²). On the other hand, the MPR samples had a greater diversity (68.26% of the identified pollen types). Qualitative analysis showed that the plants of shrub and subshrub habits had the greatest representation among the pollen types (35.0%). Overall, moss polsters proved to be excellent natural air pollen collectors in Caatinga environment, provided they had moist microhabitats for their development

First records of pollen rain in bromeliad tanks in an area of caatinga in northeastern Brazil

Species of Bromeliaceae have leaves in a spiral configuration. Because of the shape of the rosette thus formed and the imbricate configuration of the leaf sheaths, there is usually a tank in which rainwater and other components of the environment, including pollen grains, accumulate, making such tanks effective pollen rain collectors. The objective of this study was to use bromeliads as a tool to increase knowledge about the vegetation of the caatinga (shrublands) in the Canudos region of the state of Bahia, located in the semi-arid zone of Brazil, as well as to analyze the dynamics of pollen dispersal and deposition. To that end, we collected samples of the water from the tanks of bromeliads at the Canudos Biological Station. A total of 149 pollen types were detected, 88 of which could be identified botanically. The families that were the most well-represented among the pollen types were Fabaceae (with 25), Asteraceae (with 9), and Euphorbiaceae (with 7). Ten pollen types were presented as potential indicators of caatinga vegetation. We conclude that tank bromeliads are useful for gathering information about pollen rain and pollen dynamics, as well as about the transport and deposition of pollen in the caatinga