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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Ecological niche similarities of Peponapis bees and non-domesticated Cucurbita species

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Author(s):
Giannini, T. C. [1] ; Lira-Saade, R. [2] ; Ayala, R. [3] ; Saraiva, A. M. [4] ; Alves-dos-Santos, I. [1]
Total Authors: 5
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Biosci Inst, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[2] Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Estudios Super Iztacala, Mexico City 54090, DF - Mexico
[3] Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Estac Biol Chamela, Inst Biol, San Patricio 48980, Jalisco - Mexico
[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Engn, BR-05508970 Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: ECOLOGICAL MODELLING; v. 222, n. 12, p. 2011-2018, JUN 24 2011.
Web of Science Citations: 10
Abstract

Peponapis bees are considered specialized pollinators of Cucurbita flowers, a genus that presents several species of economic value (squashes and pumpkins). Both genera originated in the Americas, and their diversity dispersion center is in Mexico. Ten species of Peponapis and ten species of Cucurbita (only non-domesticated species) were analyzed considering the similarity of their ecological niche characteristics with respect to climatic conditions of their occurrence areas (abiotic variables) and interactions between species (biotic variables). The similarity of climatic conditions (temperature and precipitation) was estimated through cluster analyses. The areas of potential occurrence of the most similar species were obtained through ecological niche modeling and summed with geographic information system tools. Three main clusters were obtained: one with species that shared potential occurrence areas mainly in deserts (P. pruinosa, P. timberlakei, C. digitata, C. palmata, C. foetidissima), another in moist forests (P. limitaris, P. atrata, C. lundelliana, C. o. martinezii) and a third mainly in dry forests (C. a. sororia, C. radicans, C. pedatifolia, P. azteca, P. smithi, P. crassidentata, P. utahensis). Some species with similar ecological niche presented potential shared areas that are also similar to their geographical distribution, like those occurring predominantly on deserts. However, some clustered species presented larger geographical areas, such as P. pruinosa and C. foetidissima suggesting other drivers than climatic conditions to shape their distributions. The domestication of Cucurbita and also the natural history of both genera were considered also as important factors. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 04/15801-0 - Biodiversity and sustainable use of pollinators, with emphasis on Meliponini bees
Grantee:Vera Lucia Imperatriz-Fonseca
Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants