Analysis of the Community and Spatial Distribution of Native Stingless Bees (Meliponini) in Public Green Areas of Ribeirão Preto - SP

• Grant number: 25/14429-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Danilo Boscolo
• Grantee: Marianna Tojal Araujo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/06694-8 - BIOTA SYNTHESIS - Nucleus of Analysis and Synthesis of Nature-Based Solutions, AP.BTA.NPOP

Abstract

Bees are considered the most important animals for maintaining life on Planet Earth, as they pollinate more than 30% of the food consumed by humans. In the case of stingless bees (Tribe Meliponini), this can exceed 80% of plants, depending on the vegetation type. Thus, pollination is regarded as a highly important regulatory ecosystem service. Despite this, the environmental conditions they face, both in rural and urban areas, are concerning. Some of the threats include: lack of public awareness, illegal cutting of trees with nests, indiscriminate use of agrochemicals, and air pollution. Given this, it is necessary to take action to conserve these insects. This study aims to evaluate the hypothesis that in more urbanized and greener areas of Ribeirão Preto - SP, the Meliponini community is richer and more abundant. Additionally, it seeks to generate information that can assist in creating public policies and decision-making processes that consider bees. To achieve this, a systematic review will be conducted to identify, within the urban context, the ecosystem services provided by bees and which Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) incorporate them into their actions. The main objective of this study is to assess the richness, abundance, and spatial distribution of Meliponini nests in public green areas of Ribeirão Preto - SP. The areas will be selected based on a gradient of size, vegetation cover level, and surrounding urbanization intensity. Nest surveys will be conducted through active searching, with some individuals collected and properly preserved for later identification and deposition. For diversity analysis, relative abundance, the Shannon-Wiener and Simpson indices will be calculated, as well as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for landscape structure analysis. Regarding statistical analyses, the Generalized Linear Model (GLM) and Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) will be used to test hypotheses related to the landscape. (AU)