The Impact of Different Phytophysiognomies on the Composition of Orchid Bee Communities (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossini) in the Atlantic Forest in Brazil

Abstract

We sampled bees of the tribe Euglossini in three close areas within a small region of São Paulo state that includes three different phytophysiognomies of the Atlantic Forest biome. Even though Euglossini bees are known for flying great distances, there were clear differences in the composition of bee communities, including differences in abundance and richness of species at specific points within the same biome. The area characterized by tropical rainforest was the richest in bee fauna of this group, followed by the mixed rainforest area, whereas no specimens of Euglossini were found in nearby high-altitude fields. The differences in composition and abundance of orchid bees in geographically close areas reveal the importance of the conservation of distinct habitat patches within a biome for bee conservation.