Risk of local extinction and genetic diversity of Melipona quadrifasciata (Apidae: Meliponini) in a possible Northeastern limit of its distribution in Brazil

Sociobiology

Genésio Tamara Ribeiro¹  Marcus Vinícius Aragão Batista³  Higor Cesar Meneses Calazans³  Valdson SANTOS³  Carina Caroline Silva França³  Edilson D Araújo²  Sona Arun Jain³  Lorena Andrade Nunes⁴  Rosane Gomes Oliveira³ 

[1] Universidade Federal de SergipeDepartamento de Ciências Florestais. UFSAv. marechal Rondon, s/n49.100-000 - São Cristóvão - SE;Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Campus Universitário José Aloízio de Campos, Departamento de Biologia, Laboratório de Genética e Conservação de Recursos Naturais - GECON. Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, 499100-000 São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil. ([e-mail]);Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Campus Universitário José Aloízio de Campos, Departamento de Biologia, Laboratório de Genética e Conservação de Recursos Naturais - GECON.;Professora Visitante - Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia -UESB. Jequie - BA

关键词: Coconut trees;    nesting site;    geometric morphometrics;    stingless bee;    molecular marker;   

DOI  :  

来源: Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Brazil

【 摘 要 】

Rapid loss of genetic diversity among eusocial bees, and extinction of their local population has become a major world concern. Populations ofM. quadrifasciatahave increasingly declined due to predatory extractivism and destruction of their habitat. Knowledge of their local population could give insights on the strategies for monitoring and conservation of this species. In this study, initially, 14 colonies (140 workers) from the Northern limit of the Northeastern sandbank of the Atlantic Forest were analyzed employing geometric morphometrics techniques. Then the cytochrome b gene sequences and ISSR primers were utilized for molecular analysis. The results were compared with the results of 30M. quadrifasciatacolonies (300 workers) found in the semiarid Caatinga region. The morphometrics and the molecular analysis suggested the formation of disjunct populations between the studied geographical zones. All the 14 colonies analyzed from the river São Francisco region were found on the Southern margin of the river São Francisco and they all belonged to one single haplotype. No colonies were found on the Northern bank of the river. We suggest that the river São Francisco is an effective georgraphical barrier for the distribution of this species and propose an urgent need for the development of a conservation program for the population ofM. quadrifasciataas it represents a unique haplotype in the region. Also their nesting habit exclusively in the diseased coconut trees which probably will be replaced by new trees, create the risk of population extinction due to the lack of nesting site.

【 授权许可】

Unknown