Production of workers, queens and males in Plebeia remota colonies (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini), a stingless bee with reproductive diapause

Autor(es)

Alves, D. A. ^[1] ; Imperatriz-Fonseca, V. L. ^{[1, 2]} ; Santos-Filho, P. S. ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Ecol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Preto, Dept Biol, BR-14049 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Genetics and Molecular Research; v. 8, n. 2, p. 672-683, 2009.
• Citações Web of Science: 7

Resumo

Queen, male and worker production was studied during one year in three Plebeia remota colonies from Atlantic Rainforest in Cunha, Sao Paulo State, and two from a subtropical Araucaria forest in Prudentopolis, Parana State. All the colonies were kept in Sao Paulo city during our study. Plebeia remota has reproductive diapause during autumn and winter, which makes its biology of special interest. Brood production begins before spring, renewing the colony cycle. We sampled brood combs monthly in these five colonies. The number of cells in each comb varied significantly with time of the year; the smallest brood combs appear to be a consequence of reduced food availability. However, worker, queen and male frequencies did not differ significantly in time, and this presumably is due to the fact that they all are necessary for the growth, maintenance and reproduction of the colony. Although some molecular, morphological and behavioral differences have been detected in several studies comparing populations from Cunha and from Prudentopolis, we did not find significant differences between the colonies from these two localities in number of brood cells and worker, queen and male production. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 04/15801-0 - Biodiversidade e uso sustentável de polinizadores, com ênfase em abelhas Meliponini
• Beneficiário: Vera Lucia Imperatriz-Fonseca
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa BIOTA - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 05/58093-8 - Estratégias reprodutivas em Melipona, com ênfase em pequenas populações de Melipona scutellaris (Apidae, Meliponini)
• Beneficiário: Denise de Araujo Alves
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado Direto