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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.)

Taxonomic diversity, niche width and similarity in the use of plant resources by bees (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) in a cerrado area

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Author(s):
Andena, Sergio R. [1] ; Santos, Eduardo F. [2, 3] ; Noll, Fernando B. [2]
Total Authors: 3
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Estadual Feira de Santana, Depto Ciencias Biol, Lab Sistemat Insetos, BR-4403690 Feira De Santana, BA - Brazil
[2] UNESP, Dept Zool, BR-15054000 Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP - Brazil
[3] FFCLRP USP, Grad Program Entomol, BR-14040901 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 3
Document type: Journal article
Source: Journal of Natural History; v. 46, n. 27-28, p. 1663-1687, 2012.
Web of Science Citations: 11
Abstract

Most of the studies on the bee fauna of cerrado have shown incomplete approaches, focusing on species diversity or on a fraction of the assemblage. This work presents similarities among bee species based on visited plants and also shows taxonomic diversity of bees for plant resource sets offered by species in a cerrado area (Pe-de-Gigante), one of the few conservation areas of cerrado in the Sao Paulo State, Brazil. A total of 737 specimens, belonging to 71 bee species, were collected visiting 52 plant species. Species clusters based on visited plants show that species of Epicharis, for example, are more similar among themselves than from species of other genera. In addition, bee assemblage showed a nested structure, indicating the presence of specialist species exploiting resources subsets used by generalist species under strong intra-specific and weak inter-specific competitions. (AU)