Rogério Parentoni Martins

Yeast communities associated with stingless bees

The yeast communities associated with the stingless bees Tetragonisca angustula, Melipona quadrifasciata and Frieseomelitta varia were studied. The bees T. angustula and F. varia showed a strong association with the yeast Starmerella meliponinorum. M. quadrifasciata more frequently carried a species related to Candida apicola, but also vectored low numbers of S. meliponinorum. Some of the yeasts isolated from adult bees were typical of species known to occur in flowers. Other yeast species found in adult bees were more typical of those found in the phylloplane. S. meliponinorum and the species in the C. apicola complex, also part of the Starmerella clade, may have a mutualistic relationship with the bees studied. Many yeasts in that group are often found in bees or substrates visited by bees, suggesting that a mutually beneficial interaction exists between them.

Host specificity and seed dispersal of Psittacanthus robustus (Loranthaceae) in south-east Brazil

Psittacanthus robustus (Loranthaceae) is a Neotropical mistletoe which grows mainly on species of Vochysiaceae in Brazilian «cerrado» region. Its parasitizing pattern involves: (a) the height and the aspect of the crown of the host-plants; (b) the presence of sticky substance in the fruits of the parasite; and (c) the feeding behaviour and habitat selection of the dispersal agent, the swallowtanager Tersinia viridis viridis. The feeding behaviour of this bird on fruits of P. robustus facilitates seed release and seedling establishment; its foraging habit and habitat selection account for high concentrations of the parasites on their preferred host-plants

Ocorrência e caracterização de galhas entomógenas na vegetação do campus pampulha da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

In this study, 37 morphologically different types of insect galls was obtained in 22 tree and shrub species from one secondary successional area at the Campus-Pampulha of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais - Brazil, from august 1980 to december 1982. The cecidomiids are the most important gall-makers. They are founded in the leaves in all the plant species surveyed. The galls external morphologies are highly variable, however the inside aspect are uniform. The gall numbers are variable a mong the plant species. However, the cavity and larvae per cavity numbers is commonly one. Several dipterocecidian parasitoid families are also included in this survey.

Trophic structure and natural history of bat guano invertebrate communities, with special reference to Brazilian caves

The trophic structure and natural history of bat guano invertebrate communities in Brazilian caves was compared with information concerning bat guano communities in other caves throughout the world. The basis of Brazilian cave guano food webs are detritivorous organisms that directly consume guano, and microorganisms that live off deposits. These include mites, the most common organisms on guano, and others such as springtails (Acherontides eleonorae Palacios-Vargas & Gnaspini-Netto 1992), booklice (e.g. Psyllipsocidae), beetles (e.g. Dermestidae, Cholevidae), moths (e.g. Tineidae) and flies (e.g. Phoridae, Milichiidae). Facultative detritivores are also common, forming large populations when other organic substrata, such as vegetable debris, become scarce, as in the case of permanently dry caves. These are isopods (e.g. Trichorrhina sp.), diplopods (e.g. Pseudonannolene sp.), cockroaches, crickets (e.g. Endecous sp.), and silverfish (e.g. Coletinia brasiliensis Mendes & Ferreira in press). Other detritiv...

An overview of proximate factors affecting the nesting behavior of solitary wasps and bees (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) in preexisting cavities in wood

Guilds of Aculeate solitary wasps and bees that nest in preexisting cavities in wood are important components of terrestrial ecosystems because they engage in several ecological interactions (e.g. predation and pollination) with other species of plants and animals. Spatial and temporal variations in richness and abundance of solitary wasps and bees can be related to changes in environmental structure and in the diversity of other groups of organisms. The nesting period of these Aculeata is their most critical life cycle stage. Females of solitary wasp and bee species invest relatively more time constructing and provisioning their nests than do females of social species. Differently from species that nest in the soil or construct exposed nests, the main factors affecting the reproductive success of solitary species nesting in preexisting wood holes are still unknown. Our objective is to provide an overview of the role of proximate causes of nesting failure or success among solitary wasps and bees (Aculeata), for designing effective conservation and management strategies for these Hymenoptera.

Trap-nest occupation by solitary wasps and bees (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) in a forest urban remanent

Temporal variation of solitary wasps and bees, nesting frequency, mortality, and parasitism were recorded from a remanent forest in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Wasps and bees were collected in trap-nests placed in areas with 25, 100, and 400 m2, from February to November 2004. The 137 trap-nests collected contained 11 species of wasps and bees. Wasps occupied most nests (75%). Occupation peaks occurred in March (25%) and September (26%); in June, the lowest occupation (2%) was observed. Except for Trypoxylon (Trypargilum) lactitarse Saussure, no significant correlation was found between number of occupied nests, and temperature and rainfall means. In the nests, 48% of the immature specimens died; 13% of the nests were parasitized. Total death and parasitism rates of wasps and bees differed significantly.

Food habits and anthropic interference on the territorial marking activity of Puma concolor and Leopardus pardalis (Carnivora: Felidae) and other carnivores in the Juréia-Itatins Ecological Station, São Paulo, Brazil

Food habits of puma, ocelot and other carnivores were studied in Jureia (80.000 ha), one of the largest remnants of Atlantic forest of the state of Sao Paulo. The study was based on the analysis of scats found during a sampling period of 15 months and 415 km traversed. The diversity of prey found was high for both felines, with higher frequency and estimated biomass of collared peccary and the greater naked-tailed armadillo in the diet of the puma, and marsupials in the diet of the ocelot. The highest frequency of carnivore scats was found distant from traditional households, suggesting avoidance behavior towards human presence.

The flowering-visiting bees at the ecological station of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

The richness and the composition of bee species at the ecological station of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Campus Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil, was recorded from January to December 1996. The bee fauna of the ecological station is rich (98 species) in low-density populations species (350 individuals). The composition of the bee fauna is seasonal (Q = 29.35, df = 11, P < 0.002), however the composition in flowering plants showed no seasonality (Q = 17.30, df = 11, P < 0,099). The bee species visited 23 flowering plant species from 11 families. Asteraceae (111 individuals in 53 species) and Convolvulaceae (88 individuals in 26 species) were the most visited families. There was a positive relation between bee abundance and the number of flowering plants (r2 = 0.72, P = 0.0011, n = 12) and bee richness and abundance of flowering plants (r2 = 0.46; P = 0.010, n = 12). In the studied area and other sites at Southeastern Brazil, Apidae was the richer and abundant family and Halictidae was the richer and abundant at South Brazil. Despite its localization in a heavily urbanized area, the ecological station supports a rich bee species assembly.

CANDIDA BATISTAE, A NEW YEAST SPECIES ASSOCIATED WITH SOLITARY DIGGER NESTING BEES IN BRAZIL

AbstractSeveral strains of the new yeast species Candida batistae have been isolated from larval provisions, larvae, and pupae of the solitary bees Diadasina distincta and Ptilotrix plumata (Apidae...

The value of a tree species (Caryocar brasiliense) for a stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata quadrifasciata

The expansion of crop lands and increased logging for charcoal production in the Brazilian savannahs (“cerrados”) has reduced richness and abundance of Meliponini bees. This may be a consequence of limitation in the availability of potential nesting substrate. The role of a cerrado-tree (Caryocar brasiliense) in providing nesting substrate for Melipona quadrifasciata quadrifasciata was evaluated. Tree (p= 0.006) and branch (p= 0.001) diameters, number of suitable branches (n= 513), height of the trees and availability of trees suitable for bee nesting were all important to the conservation of M. quadrifasciata. However, the high availability of nesting substrate did not seem to limit nest density nor cause the clumped pattern of nest distributions found for the study site. Nests (n= 48) were found mainly in individuals of C. brasiliense (n= 46) suggesting an active tree selection. In addition, nests located on the highest branches (mean = 4.6 m, sd = 1 m, n= 46) had lower probability of being extirpated by human honey collectors.