Euglossini bee diversity is driven by forest cover in coastal Amazon

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Entomology

Background:

• Habitat loss and fragmentation are primary drivers of biodiversity decline.
• The impact of landscape structure on Euglossini bees (orchid bees) in coastal Amazonian regions remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how landscape structure influences the abundance, richness, diversity, and species composition of Euglossini bees.
• To assess the role of forest cover and landscape heterogeneity in supporting these pollinators on the Brazilian Amazon coast.

Main Methods:

• Conducted field sampling at 48 locations on Marajó Island, Pará, Brazil, using chemical baits to collect Euglossini bees.
• Mapped surrounding landscapes and analyzed landscape structure (composition and configuration).
• Employed Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) to correlate landscape variables with bee community metrics.

Main Results:

• A total of 1017 male Euglossini bees from four genera and 22 species were collected.
• Forest cover (%) and landscape heterogeneity were identified as key predictors of the bee community.
• Higher forest cover positively correlated with increased bee abundance, richness, and diversity.
• Conversely, increased landscape heterogeneity negatively affected bee abundance, richness, and diversity at the local scale.

Conclusions:

• The study supports the hypothesis that habitat amount positively influences Euglossini bee communities.
• Maintaining or increasing forest cover in coastal Amazonian landscapes is crucial for conserving Euglossini bees and their associated pollination services.
• Landscape management strategies should prioritize forest preservation to support these vital pollinators.