Population structure and genetic diversity of the orchid bee Eufriesea violacea (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Euglossini) from Atlantic Forest remnants in southern and southeastern Brazil

• Published in: Apidologie Vol. 43; no. 4; pp. 392 - 402
• Main Authors: Freiria, Gabriele Antico, Ruim, Juliana Bombarda, de Souza, Rogério Fernandes, Sofia, Silvia Helena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Springer-Verlag 01-07-2012; EDP Sciences; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Agricultural sciences; Animal biology; Animal production studies; Animals; Biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Ecology, environment; Entomology; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General forest ecology; Generalities. Production, biomass. Quality of wood and forest products. General forest ecology; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Invertebrata; Invertebrate Zoology; Life Sciences; Original Article; Population genetics, reproduction patterns; South America; Brazil; America; microsatellites; genetic variation; euglossine bees; forest fragments; Forests; Genetic variability; Insecta; Apidae; Population structure; Genetic diversity; Population genetics; Apoidea; Arthropoda; Microsatellite DNA; Atlantic Façade; Hymenoptera; Invertebrata; Animal population; Aculeata
• ISSN: 0044-8435; 1297-9678
• DOI: 10.1007/s13592-011-0104-y

In this study, both the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of
Eufriesea violacea
from six Atlantic Forest fragments, located in four Brazilian states, were assessed using microsatellite markers. The results showed that genetic diversity was high in all populations and the genetic differentiation (
Φ
ST
), based on allelic frequency differences, for all population pairwise comparisons was found to be significantly different from zero, indicating from low to moderate genetic differentiation among populations. Considerably higher genetic differentiation values were revealed by the
D
est
estimator, indicating very high levels of differentiation for some pairs of populations. The present results on the population structure of
E. violacea
suggest a restriction in gene flow among populations from different Atlantic Forest remnants. Thus, considering the intense threats over the current Atlantic Forest remnants, more attention should be paid to populations of this euglossine species.