The impact of agricultural colonization and deforestation on stingless bee (Apidae: Meliponini) composition and richness in Rondônia, Brazil

Abstract

Stingless bees were collected throughout the state of Rondônia in the southwestern Brazilian Amazon for one year. The impact of agricultural colonization and subsequent deforestation on species composition and richness is explored. Deforestation, around each of 187 sample sites, was characterized at meso, micro, and local spatial scales. At the micro-scale, deforestation was measured using a data layer generated by satellite remote sensing and analyzed with the assistance of a geographic information system. We report perhaps the greatest richness of stingless bees ever recorded in the tropics, collecting 9,555 individuals from 98 species of stingless bees. Ten of these are new species and 16 were first-ever records for Rondônia. Five new species were scientifically described from the study. We report statistical relationships between deforestation and species richness at all spatial scales of analysis, and we tentatively identify species that appear to be especially sensitive to deforestation.