scholarly journals Bee diversity in fragmented areas of Volcano Etna (Sicily, Italy) at different degrees of anthropic disturbance (Hymenoptera: Apoidea, Anthophila)

2022 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
G.F. Turrisi ◽  
S. Bella ◽  
R. Catania ◽  
P. La Greca ◽  
V. Nobile ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Control Site ◽  
Seasonal Patterns ◽  
Ecological Studies ◽  
Citrus Orchard ◽  
Management Regimes ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
Bee Diversity ◽  
Bee Communities

The present three-year study traces the diversity of four bee communities in fragmented pedemontane areas of Volcano Etna (Catania province, Sicily) near the Metropolitan City of Catania, under different land management regimes. The selected areas comprise two different urban parks within Catania (Parco Gioeni and Parco degli Ulivi), a Nature Reserve (Complesso Immacolatelle e Micio Conti, San Gregorio di Catania), and an agroecosystem (a citrus orchard, Aci Catena). Previous data obtained from a well-investigated area (Leucatia, north of Catania) have been used as a control for bee diversity for this study. The results include an outline of bee species richness, data on the composition of bee communities, and seasonal patterns, using several diversity indexes. The study of bee diversity shows a total of 163 species, arranged in five families. The four investigated locations include 104 species arranged in four families: Andrenidae (20 species), Halictidae (15 species), Megachilidae (31 species), and Apidae (38 species); with a similar number of species (102) recorded in the control site (Leucatia). The study highlights strong seasonal variations of bee communities in all investigated sites, with differentiated seasonal patterns, whose compositions are affected mainly by forage sources, suitable nesting sites, as well as human activities. The data obtained provide a rough but basilar framework to assess management strategies to maintain adequate levels of bee diversity, especially for those areas with moderate to high environmental fragmentation. Our findings highlight the importance of season-long sampling of bee population factors if used as indicators in ecological studies.

Mitochondrial DNA variation and matrilineal structure in blue sheep populations of Helan Mountain, China

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (10) ◽  
pp. 1431-1439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Ming Wang ◽  
Li-Rong Cao ◽  
Zhen-Sheng Liu ◽  
Sheng-Guo Fang
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Control Region ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Isolation By Distance ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Haplotype Diversity ◽  
Hypervariable Region ◽  
Population History ◽  
Blue Sheep ◽  
Helan Mountain

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region (5′ hypervariable region, 554 bp) sequences from 71 samples of blue sheep ( Pseudois nayaur Hodgson, 1833) collected from six study localities throughout Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Ningxia province of China were investigated to analyse distribution patterns of genetic variability, elucidate matrilineal structure, and investigate population history. Haplotype diversity (h) among the 71 samples was estimated to be 0.792 ± 0.037, and nucleotide diversity (Π) was relatively low (0.00392 ± 0.00046). A χ2 contingency analysis of all mtDNA haplotype frequencies revealed that these haplotypes were distributed in a nonrandom fashion among study localities (χ2 = 86.205, P = 0.092). Additional evidence of matrilineal structure was provided by the finding that a significant amount (9.02%; P < 0.01) of mtDNA variation was partitioned among different localities in the study area. We conclude that blue sheep of Helan Mountain Nature Reserve are structured spatially along matrilines. Pairwise computations of Φst and an AMOVA indicated that some sampling localities are differentiated relative to a random collection of genotypes and reflected differences in the spatial distribution of genetic variation. Isolation-by-distance (IBD) models (Mantel tests) revealed no obvious association between genetic differentiation and geographical distance. These results could be a basis for the development of suitable management strategies for conservation purposes. This work represents the first analysis of blue sheep mitochondrial control region DNA to be performed from a population genetics perspective.

scholarly journals Population assessment and foraging ecology of the rare solitary bee Anthophora retusa at Seaford Head Nature reserve

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgia Hennessy ◽  
Dave Goulson ◽  
Francis L. W. Ratnieks
Keyword(s):  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Foraging Ecology ◽  
Solitary Bee ◽  
Male Population ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Plant Groups ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
Flight Season ◽  
Declining Species ◽  
Sea Cliff

Abstract Anthophora retusa is a rare solitary bee which has declined throughout Britain and other European countries since the 1990s. It is thought to be restricted to five sites in Britain. However, information on these remaining populations is limited. Knowledge on population size, habitat and forage requirements and foraging distance, are important for successful conservation of species. The population of A. retusa at the Seaford Head Nature reserve in East Sussex was surveyed. Transects within the reserve were conducted and population estimates using mark recapture were made for 2018 and 2019. Pollen from foraging females was analysed alongside visual sightings to determine forage requirements. The total population was estimated to be 91 in 2018 (males and females) with an estimated male population of 167 in 2019. The most visited flower species by females was Glechoma hederacea (66% of visits) but flower preference changed throughout the flight season, shifting to Fabaceae species and Iris foetidissima with 16 plant groups identified in pollen samples. Bees were geographically restricted to a small area within the reserve (approximately 30 ha). Although the exact location of nesting sites was not determined with certainty it is thought nests are in the loess deposits at the top of the inaccessible sea cliff face. This project suggests the presence of appropriate nesting sites may be limiting A. retusa distribution as they appear to forage on common plant species. More research is needed on the exact nesting requirements of the species. Implications for Insect Conservation The findings from this paper help contribute to the limited understanding of the ecology of this rare and declining species. By knowing the forage requirements of A. retusa, other areas where it is found can ensure these are present within a short distance of nest sites, hopefully ensuring the survival of individual populations and therefore the species.

Urban open space transition and management in Lagos, Nigeria

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 951-965 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Adeniran Adedeji ◽  
Joseph Akinlabi Fadamiro
Keyword(s):  
Open Space ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Photographic Recording ◽  
Open Spaces ◽  
Site Assessment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Regimes

Purpose – The poor outdoor quality of highly populated third-world cities is a consequence of the misuse of public open spaces as refuse dumps and for informal trading activities. This describes the situation of Lagos metropolis before the present political will that has infused great landscaping transition into the cityscape. However, the challenges of maintenance are germane to the sustainability of these landscape products. The purpose of this paper is to assess the quality and characteristics of the landscapes that have undergone transition and to formulate a framework for maintenance strategies. Design/methodology/approach – The study objectively evaluates the physical qualities of 22 randomly selected sites that have undergone transition through on-site assessment and photographic recording. The management regimes were subjectively studied to appraise the level of their effectiveness and to guide future strategies. This was carried out by collecting the opinions of 130 selected government officials in charge of maintaining the spaces with the aid an interview guide. Findings – Analyses of the data revealed rich values of the landscapes and management strategies in favour of a public-private partnership. It recommends public open space transformation for recreational activities in cities as a vital means of enhancing urban living and city outlooks. Practical implications – The study concludes with formulation of sustainable management framework for the landscapes and argues in its favour. It thus has policy implications on the maintenance of urban open spaces that have undergone transition in Lagos and Nigeria at large. Originality/value – The study was carried out in May 2011. Its significance lies in its capacity of enhancing the quality of urban open spaces through appropriate policy formulation of management regimes.

scholarly journals Delivery of crop pollination services is an insufficient argument for wild pollinator conservation

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Kleijn ◽  
Rachael Winfree ◽  
Ignasi Bartomeus ◽  
Luísa G Carvalheiro ◽  
Mickaël Henry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Crop Pollination ◽  
Wild Bees ◽  
Pollination Services ◽  
Bee Communities

Abstract There is compelling evidence that more diverse ecosystems deliver greater benefits to people, and these ecosystem services have become a key argument for biodiversity conservation. However, it is unclear how much biodiversity is needed to deliver ecosystem services in a cost-effective way. Here we show that, while the contribution of wild bees to crop production is significant, service delivery is restricted to a limited subset of all known bee species. Across crops, years and biogeographical regions, crop-visiting wild bee communities are dominated by a small number of common species, and threatened species are rarely observed on crops. Dominant crop pollinators persist under agricultural expansion and many are easily enhanced by simple conservation measures, suggesting that cost-effective management strategies to promote crop pollination should target a different set of species than management strategies to promote threatened bees. Conserving the biological diversity of bees therefore requires more than just ecosystem-service-based arguments.

scholarly journals Bee diversity responses to forest and open areas in heterogeneous Atlantic Forest

Sociobiology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Silva Nery ◽  
Juliana Toshie Takata ◽  
Bruna Bertagni De Camargo ◽  
Aryane Moreno Chaves ◽  
Patrícia Alves Ferreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Understory ◽  
Pollination Services ◽  
Forest Patches ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Tropical Environments ◽  
Initial Hypothesis ◽  
Forested Areas ◽  
Bee Diversity ◽  
Tropical Landscapes ◽  
Bee Communities

Agriculture driven landscape changes has caused worldwide forest loss and fragmentation, seriously affecting biodiversity and ecosystem services, amongst which pollination is remarkably important. Bees are an essential pollinator group for forest plant populations and food production in tropical landscapes. They are also dependent on forested environments which are essential to maintain their diversity and pollination services. We analyzed bee diversity in contrasting forest and adjacent non-forest patches to evaluate if bees can use complementary non-native environments in heterogeneous altered tropical landscapes. The effect of landscape level heterogeneity and forest amount on bee diversity was also assessed. Our hypothesis was that bee communities would be more rich and diverse inside the forest understory, but due to supplementary foraging behaviors they would be more abundant in non-forested areas where flower availability is higher. We actively sampled bees visiting flowers within forest patches and in surrounding non-forest open areas between the Cantareira and Mantiqueira mountain ranges in São Paulo, Brazil. We found higher bee richness and diversity in open areas than in forest patches, partially denying our initial hypothesis but supporting that bees are more abundant in non-forest areas. We found strong indication that landscapes with higher amount of forest and environmental heterogeneity can provide more resources for bees through resource complementation processes, maintaining their diversity in the landscape. The presence of forest patches close to crop and open areas is of utmost importance for the conservation of bees and pollination services with important consequences for land management in tropical environments.

scholarly journals Evaluating Native Bee Communities and Nutrition in Managed Grasslands

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 717-725
Author(s):  
D S Stein ◽  
D M Debinski ◽  
J M Pleasants ◽  
A L Toth
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Tallgrass Prairie ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Flowering Plant ◽  
Floral Resources ◽  
Pollinator Community ◽  
Bee Communities ◽  
Bee Abundance

Abstract Native pollinators are important for providing vital services in agroecosystems; however, their numbers are declining globally. Bees are the most efficient and diverse members of the pollinator community; therefore, it is imperative that management strategies be implemented that positively affect bee community composition and health. Here, we test responses of the bee and flowering plant communities to land management treatments in the context of grasslands in the upper Midwestern United States, a critical area with respect to bee declines. Twelve sites were selected to examine floral resources and wild bee communities based on three different types of grasslands: tallgrass prairie remnants, ungrazed restorations, and grazed restorations. Total bee abundance was significantly higher in ungrazed restorations than remnants, but there were no significant differences among grasslands in community composition or Shannon diversity. Across the three grassland types we also examined mass and lipid stores as nutritional health indicators in three sweat bees (Halictidae), Augochlora pura, Agapostemon virescens, and Halictus ligatus. Although there were no differences in lipid content, total average bee mass was significantly higher in Ag. virescens collected from ungrazed restorations as compared to remnants. Floral abundance of native and non-native species combined was significantly higher in grazed restorations compared to remnants and ungrazed restorations. However, ungrazed restorations had higher abundance and richness of native flowering ramets. These data suggest that bee abundance and nutrition are driven by high abundance of native flowering plant species, rather than total flowering plants.

scholarly journals Contribution of DNA barcoding to the study of the bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) of Canada: progress to date

2017 ◽  
Vol 149 (6) ◽  
pp. 736-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cory S. Sheffield ◽  
Jennifer Heron ◽  
Jason Gibbs ◽  
Thomas M. Onuferko ◽  
Ryan Oram ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Barcoding ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Dna Barcode ◽  
Ecological Studies ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Bee Diversity ◽  
Cryptic Taxa ◽  
Morphological Species ◽  
Taxonomic Studies ◽  
Nesting Preferences

AbstractBees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea, Apiformes) are taxonomically and ecologically diverse, with a wide range of social complexity, nesting preferences, floral associations, and biogeographic restrictions. A Canadian bee checklist, greatly assisted by the gene-assisted approach of DNA barcoding, is nearing completion. Previous evaluation of bee diversity in Canada, assisted by DNA barcoding, was restricted to Nova Scotia, which contains about 25% of the bee species in the country. Here, we summarise efforts to date to build a comprehensive DNA barcode library supporting bee taxonomic studies in Canada, consisting of more than 12 500 barcode-compliant sequences yielding 811 distinct barcode index numbers (BINs). This appears to represent ~95% of the 856 bee species presently recorded from Canada, but comparison with known morphological species in each genus shows that some genera are still under-sampled or may contain cryptic taxa, with much taxonomic work still to be done on bees in Canada. This is particularly true within the taxonomically difficult generaAndrenaFabricius (Andrenidae), HylaeusFabricius (Colletidae),MelissodesLatreille (Apidae),NomadaScopoli (Apidae),OsmiaPanzer (Megachilidae), andSphecodesLatreille (Halictidae). DNA analysis will likely be a key asset in resolving bee taxonomic issues in Canada in the future, and to date has even assisted studies of well-known bee taxa. Here we present summaries of our results, and discuss the use of DNA barcoding to assist future taxonomic work, faunal lists, and ecological studies.

Habitat selection by helmeted honeyeaters

1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
JL Pearce ◽  
MA Burgman ◽  
DC Franklin
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Habitat Management ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Habitat Models ◽  
State Nature Reserve ◽  
State Nature

The realised niche of the helmeted honeyeater, in terms of the floristic and structural attributes of the vegetation, was determined using logistic discrimination. The vegetation was divided into two communities, Eucalyptus camphora swampland and E. viminalis-dominated riparian forest, based on differences observed in other studies on foraging behaviour within these two communities. The variables describing the realised niche of the helmeted honeyeater in the E. camphora community were a high bark index, a large number of E. camphora stems and the presence of surface water. The results for the E. viminalis community were less conclusive, but suggest that a deep eucalypt canopy may be important. These variables relate to the feeding and breeding biology of the helmeted honeyeater. Habitat models of this form will allow appropriate habitat management strategies for Yellingbo State Nature Reserve to be developed, as well as allow the suitability of potential helmeted honeyeater release or relocation sites to be assessed.

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