Nesting Ecology of Centris (Paracentris) burgdorfi (Apidae, Centridini).

• Grant number: 13/01580-0
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2013
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology
• Principal researcher: Isabel Alves dos Santos
• Grantee: William de Oliveira Sabino
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 16/00325-5 - Interaction between Centris (Paracentris) Cameron bees and the floral-oil producing Krameria plants, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Insects make up one of the most evolutionarily successful groups because of its wide distribution and diversity, with more than double the rate others taxa gathered together. Amongst the many orders of insects, the Hymenopterans are one of the most important, not only for its behavioral complexity, but also for the important ecosystem services they provide. Bees are amongst the most studied insects, but despite this, in some groups, there's still a lack of knowledge about their ecology and interaction with the surrounding environment. This is the case of specialists bees that collect floral oils, closely related with plants that often secrete and offer oil only instead of nectar and pollen, as resource. The objective of this study will be to obtain data about the entire nesting process of Centris burgdorfi, a solitary oil collecting bee, which nests in sandy compacted soil (like petrified dunes) and as well as trying to understand its interaction with the plants. For this, data will be observed about the nesting behavior, nest structure and specificity for botanical collecting pollen and nectar.