The bee community (Hymenoptera, Apidae) of Ilha Grande, Babitonga bay, Santa Catarina State, Brazil: structure, insularity and interaction network

Island bee communities tend to exhibit lower diversity compared to mainland counterparts, but this study challenges that notion by revealing a surprisingly diverse and complex bee community on Ilha Grande, Babitonga Bay, Brazil. The research identified 50 species or morphotypes of bees, with Apis mellifera being the most abundant, yet its presence reduced overall diversity throughout the year. Notably, the island's Halictinae richness surpassed mainland levels, while Apinae diversity was lower due to the absence of Meliponina. Interaction network analysis showed an asymmetric, nested, and poorly specialized system, indicating limited interference or favoring of certain taxa. The study employed a systematic sampling approach over two years, collecting 785 bee specimens and identifying 55 associated botanical species, with Schinus terebinthifolius being the most visited. These findings corroborate the Theory of Island Biogeography while highlighting unique ecological dynamics on Ilha Grande.

Da Silva, J. R. C., Mouga, D. M. D. d. S., & Dec, E. (2022). The bee community (Hymenoptera, Apidae) of Ilha Grande, Babitonga bay, Santa Catarina State, Brazil: structure, insularity and interaction network. Sociobiology, 69(1), e7360. https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v69i1.7360