Padrão no uso de recursos e compartilhamento de nicho de Melipona quadrifasciata e M. scutellaris (Apidae, Meliponini) em remanescente de Floresta Atlântica no nordeste brasileiro

Abstract

The behavior of stingless bees is dynamic in the exploitation of plant resources. Some elements can increase or decrease these activities, such as climatic factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the foraging behavior, niche overlap and the influence of environmental variation on the activities of Melipona scutellaris and M. quadrifasciata, through rational breeding in the same area. The study was carried out in an Atlantic Rainforest fragment in São Cristóvão (SE) from June 2016 to March 2017. The items carried by the bees (nectar and water, pollen, garbage, clay and resin), the temperature and the relative humidity of the air, obtained by means of a digital thermometer, were recorded monthly, from 5h to 18h. Circular statistics, niche overlap module testing and path modeling were performed. Both species did most of the outdoor activities in the morning, increasing as a result of increased humidity and reducing when the temperature increases throughout the day and reducing when both variables increased throughout the year. Even with high values of niche overlap, the divergence observed in the foraging peaks of both species and the plant diversity in the surroundings may minimize the impacts of competition for floral resources.