Morphological, chemical, and molecular analyses differentiate populations of the subterranean nesting stingless bee Mourella caerulea (Apidae: Meliponini)

Author(s)

Galaschi-Teixeira, Juliana S. ^[1] ; Falcon, Tiago ^[2] ; Ferreira-Caliman, Maria Juliana ^[1] ; Witter, Sidia ^[3] ; Francoy, Tiago Mauricio ^[4]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Pret, Dept Biol, Av Bandeirantes 3900, BR-14040901 Ribeirao Preto - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Genet, Av Bandeirantes 3900, BR-14040900 Ribeirao Preto - Brazil

^[3] Fundacao Estadual Pesquisa Agropecuaria Rio Grand, Ctr Pesquisa Emilio Schenk, 1 Distrito, Fonte Grande, BR-12958600 Taquari - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Escola Artes Ciencias & Humanidades, Rua Arlindo Bettio 1000, BR-03828000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Apidologie; v. 49, n. 3, p. 367-377, JUN 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

To characterize the populational diversity of Mourella caerulea, an endemic stingless bee from the Pampa biome, we collected workers of the stingless bee Mourella caerulea from 24 colonies of five localities in Southern Brazil and analyzed it using geometric morphometrics of forewings, mtDNA cytochrome oxidase I variability, and cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) chemical analysis. The morphometric analysis discriminated the populations of M. caerulea from different physiographic regions. There was a positive correlation between morphometric and geographic distances. CHC profiles also differentiated the colonies from different localities. We found six particular haplotypes, nucleotide diversity (pi) of 0.01631, and a haplotype diversity (Hd) of 0.74. In this sense, the comparison of the population belonging to different physiographic regions indicates that we need to give particular attention to M. caerulea at the moment of creating conservation strategies for South Brazilian Fauna, once it is the only species of this monospecific genus, and its populations are much differentiated from each other. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/02434-2 - Characterization of population of Mourella caerulea (Friese, 1900) (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) by geometric morphometric wing, analysis of cuticular hydrocarbons and mtDNA.
• Grantee: Juliana Stephanie Galaschi Teixeira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 11/07857-9 - Populational characterization of orchid bees (Apidae, Euglossini) from São Paulo State using geometric morphometrics of wings, mitochondrial DNA variability and cuticular hydrocarbons
• Grantee: Tiago Mauricio Francoy
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Young Investigators Grants