Pollination is a key ecosystem service that generates clear benefits for humans. Floral visitors provide pollination services for approximately 70% of agricultural cultivars globally. While a diversity of biological groups provide pollination services, bees represent a particular efficient group of pollinators for the majority of plant species. In tropical and subtropical regions, stingless bees are considered a particularly important pollinator group, with tremendous biological and commercial value. Diverse studies demonstrate that the presence of native stingless bees in coffee plantations results in an increase in coffee bean productivity. In addition, various studies show that the species richnes and abundance of these bee species are negatively affected by degradation of natural habitat. Given that gene flow helps to maintain genetic diversity and avoid inbreeding as well as conserves genetic variation, land-use change represents an important threat to both the viability of natural pollinator populations, and the maintenance of pollination services themselves. However, the impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation on the maintenance of genetic diversity, gene flow between populations and pollination rates remain understudied.
The overall objective of this sub-project is to evaluate the relationship between landscape structure, the genetic population structure of native bee pollinators, and pollination services in landscapes composed of mosaics of coffee plantations and Atlantic Forest remnants. Specifically, we intend to:
1) Quantify the influence of landscape-level forest cover on the richness, abundance and composition of floral visitors and coffee pollination services.
2) Evaluate the relationship between proximity of forest fragments, and the diversity and composition of floral visitors and coffee pollination services.
3) Quantify the influence of landscape structure on genetic diversity and gene flow in two species of native stingless bees.
4) Identify possible thresholds in pollination services, bee biodiversity or genetic variation related to two key landscape variables: the loss of natural habitat and distance to forest fragments.
The results of this project are intended to promote a quantitative understanding of how to design more sustainable production of coffee, capable of uniting financial gains to producers with biodiversity conservation goals.
* Pictures have links to detailed descriptions of sub-projects.
The overall objective of this sub-project is to evaluate the relationship between landscape structure, the genetic population structure of native bee pollinators, and pollination services in landscapes composed of mosaics of coffee plantations and Atlantic Forest remnants. Specifically, we intend to:
1) Quantify the influence of landscape-level forest cover on the richness, abundance and composition of floral visitors and coffee pollination services.
2) Evaluate the relationship between proximity of forest fragments, and the diversity and composition of floral visitors and coffee pollination services.
3) Quantify the influence of landscape structure on genetic diversity and gene flow in two species of native stingless bees.
4) Identify possible thresholds in pollination services, bee biodiversity or genetic variation related to two key landscape variables: the loss of natural habitat and distance to forest fragments.
The results of this project are intended to promote a quantitative understanding of how to design more sustainable production of coffee, capable of uniting financial gains to producers with biodiversity conservation goals.
* Pictures have links to detailed descriptions of sub-projects.