Influence of some abiotic factors on the flight activity of stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) in Southern Brazil

Abstract

Stingless bees are essential for the pollination of cultivated and native plant species. Anthropogenic activities in natural ecosystems trigger changes in the microclimate, impacting the flight activity of bees. Here, we examine the effects of some abiotic factors on the flight activity of some stingless bees. We installed four colonies of each species (Plebeia droryana, Scaptotrigona bipunctata and Melipona quadrisfasciata) in three distinct areas (predominantly urbanized area, mosaic of pastures with agricultural cultivation and mosaic of natural vegetation with fragmented landscapes) represented by different uses and land cover (L.U.L.C.). All observations were in the morning during three time slots. For each area, we recorded daily abiotic factors and measured the flight activity of bees entering and leaving the colony. P. droryana and S. bipunctata had similar flight activities, with less activity in anthropized areas. M. quadrifasciata showed the lowest activity among species in the three areas. The flight activity of S. bipunctata showed significant differences. Abiotic factors had significant differences between areas, light intensity had the greatest influence on flight activity among the three species. Our study indicates that stingless bees exhibit a pattern of behavior. However, the abiotic characteristics of a given ecosystem can affect the flight activity of each species based on its normative behavior. This is the first study to evaluate abiotic effects on the flight activity of P. droryana, S. bipunctata and M. quadrifasciata in southern Brazil. The results obtained here can contribute to the establishment of a conservation plan for stingless bee species and prevent future extinctions in a scenario of environmental changes.

Keywords:

• Climatic factors
• anthropized areas
• Plebeia droryana
• Scaptotrigona bipunctata
• Melipona quadrifasciata

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded from the Call CNPQ/MCTIC/IBAMA/ASSOCIAÇÃO ABELHA N 32/2017 - Projeto 400585/2018-9 - Estrutura da paisagem e Abelha-sem-ferrão: Efeitos sobre a coleta e uso de recursos alimentares e a dinâmica das colônias e indivíduos. This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de nivel Superior - Brazil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001 for the fellowship to MEKM, MRF, DTTA and VPL.