Population Dynamics of Male Euglossine Bees in Amazonian Forest Fragments

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
At sites near Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil we measured the impact of forest fragmentation on populations of male euglossine bees. The visitation rates of 15 species of male euglossine bees [Eulaema meriana, E. moesaryi, E. bombiformis, Euglossa viridis, E. iehalybeata, E. iopyrrha, E. stilbonata, E. prasina, E. gaianii, E. crassipunctata, E. augaspis, E. piliventris, Exaerete frontalis, Eufriesea laniventris, E. xantha, and E. purpurata.] to three chemical attractants were determined for continuous forest; isolated 1, 10 and 100 ha forest fragments; and a cleared area. For most species, visitation rate declined with fragment size, even though openings separating fragments and continuous forest tended to be narrow (as little as 100 m). Pre- and post-isolation comparisons for individual fragments exhibited the same trend. Bee species attracted to scents in the clearing differed from those of the forest indicating there was little potential for forest pollination by these clearing species. These results are discussed with respect to the impact of forest fragmentation on plant species richness and the design of natural and commercial forest reserves.