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Mara Garcia Tavares - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Prediction of social structure and genetic relatedness in colonies of the facultative polygynous stingless bee Melipona bicolor (Hymenoptera, Apidae)
    Genetics and Molecular Biology, 2011
    Co-Authors: Evelyze Pinheiro Dos Reis, Lucio Antonio De Oliveira Campos, Mara Garcia Tavares
    Abstract:

    Abstract Stingless bee colonies typically consist of one single-mated mother queen and her worker offspring. The stinglessbee Melipona bicolor(Hymenoptera: Apidae) shows facultative polygyny, which makes this species particularly suit-ablefortestingtheoreticalexpectationsconcerningsocialbehavior.Inthisstudy,weinvestigatedthesocialstructureandgeneticrelatednessamongworkersfromeightnaturalandsixmanipulatedcoloniesofM.bicoloroveraperiodofone year. The populations of M. bicolorcontained monogynous and polygynous colonies. The estimated genetic re-latedness among workers from monogynous and polygynous colonies was 0.75 0.12 and 0.53 0.16 (mean SEM), respectively. Although the parental genotypes had significant effects on genetic relatedness in monogynousandpolygynouscolonies,polygynymarkedlydecreasedtherelatednessamongnestmateworkers.Ourfindingsalsodemonstrate that polygyny in M. bicolormay arise from the adoption of related or unrelated queens. Key words: Melipona , microsatellites, polygyny, queen number, social structure.Received: August 6, 2010; Accepted: December 21, 2010.

  • Genome size variation in Melipona species (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and sub-grouping by their DNA content*
    Apidologie, 2010
    Co-Authors: Mara Garcia Tavares, Carlos Roberto Ribeiro De Carvalho, Fernanda Aparecida Ferrari Soares
    Abstract:

    The stingless bees of the genus Melipona comprise a group with approximately 40 Neotropical species. Despite their ecological and economic importance, the size of the genomes of these species remains poorly known. Thus, the present study measured the DNA content of 15 Melipona species. The mean genome size (1C) of the females ranged from 0.27 pg to 1.38 pg, with increments of, approximately, 0.12 pg. It was possible to recognize two groups of species: the first presented relatively low DNA content (average = 0.29 pg), while the second showed high DNA content (average = 0.98 pg). This result corroborates the cytogenetic classification of these species into two groups, one of them comprising species with a low heterochromatin content ( 50%). Amongst the groups with low and high DNA content, there was no significant correlation between the DNA content and the size of the bees. The data obtained may aid in the selection of species which are suitable for sequencing projects, besides providing an overview of the diversity in the genome size of the Melipona genus.

  • Genome size variation in Melipona species (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and sub-grouping by their DNA content
    Apidologie, 2010
    Co-Authors: Mara Garcia Tavares, Carlos Roberto Carvalho, Fernanda Aparecida Ferrari Soares
    Abstract:

    The stingless bees of the genus Melipona comprise a group with approximately 40 Neotropical species. Despite their ecological and economic importance, the size of the genomes of these species remains poorly known. Thus, the present study measured the DNA content of 15 Melipona species. The mean genome size (1C) of the females ranged from 0.27 pg to 1.38 pg, with increments of, approximately, 0.12 pg. It was possible to recognize two groups of species: the first presented relatively low DNA content (average = 0.29 pg), while the second showed high DNA content (average = 0.98 pg). This result corroborates the cytogenetic classification of these species into two groups, one of them comprising species with a low heterochromatin content (< 50%), and the other species with high heterochromatin content (> 50%). Amongst the groups with low and high DNA content, there was no significant correlation between the DNA content and the size of the bees. The data obtained may aid in the selection of species which are suitable for sequencing projects, besides providing an overview of the diversity in the genome size of the Melipona genus.

  • Genome size estimation of three stingless bee species (Hymenoptera, Meliponinae) by flow cytometry
    Apidologie, 2009
    Co-Authors: Denilce Meneses Lopes, Carlos Roberto Carvalho, Wellington Ronildo Clarindo, Milene Miranda Praça, Mara Garcia Tavares
    Abstract:

    The present study standardizes a reproducible flow cytometry (FCM) protocol for DNA content measurement of bee species and applied it to Scaptotrigona and Melipona species. The mean nuclear DNA content value of male and female S. xantotricha was 0.42 pg (410.8 Mbp) and 0.44 pg (430.3 Mbp), respectively, while the mean haploid genome size was determined to be 0.93 pg (909.5 Mbp) for M. rufiventris and 0.95 pg (929.1 Mbp) for M. mondury . The variation observed in this study, albeit in a preliminary way, may be related with the variation in the heterochromatin content in the chromosomes of Scaptotrigona and Melipona species. The results provide a starting point for comparative analysis on the patterns of genome size variation in the stingless bees. Kenntnisse über Genomgrössen sind von Bedeutung für den Entwurf von Sequenzierungesprojekten und für vergleichende Studien unterschiedlicher taxonomischer Gruppen. Nichtsdestoweniger ist die Genomgröße verschiedener Insektengruppen, einschliesslich der Stachellosen Biene nahe unbekannt, trotz ihrer ökologischen Bedeutung. Ziele dieser Untersuchung waren: (1) die Standardisierung eines Protokolls zur Gewinnung von Zellkernen für Durchflusszytometrieanalysen (FCM) bei Bienen, und (2) die Bestimmung des DNA-Gehalts für Scaptotrigona xantotricha, Melipona rufiventris und M. mondury , als Startpunkt für vergleichende Analysen der Variation der Genomgrössen Stachelloser Bienen. Das entwickelte Protokoll (Tab. I) erlaubte es, adequate Kernsuspensionen mit niedrigem Fluoreszenzhintergrund bedingt durch Kernfragmente und andere Organelle zu gewinnen, und es lieferte Histogramme mit Variationskoeffizienten zwischen 2,87 und 4,14 % (Abb. 1). Der mittlere DNA-Gehalt für Männchen von S. xantotricha lag bei 0,42 pg (410,8 Mbp), der von Weibchen betrug 0,44 pg (430,3 Mbp). Für M. rufiventris betrug die Größe des haploiden Genoms 0,93 pg (909,5 Mbp) und für M. mondury lag der Wert bei 0,95 pg (929,1 Mbp) (Tab. II). Diese Unterschiede im DNA-Gehalt könnten ihre Ursache in unterschiedlichen Heterochromatingehalten der Chromosomen von Scaptotrigona und Melipona -Arten haben. Die Ergebnisse stellen einenAusgangspunkt für vergleichende Untersuchungen zur Genomgröße und der entsprechenden Variationen bei Stachellosen Bienen dar.

  • Genome size estimation of three stingless bee species (Hymenoptera, Meliponinae) by flow cytometry
    Apidologie, 2009
    Co-Authors: Denilce Meneses Lopes, Carlos Roberto Carvalho, Wellington Ronildo Clarindo, Milene Miranda Praça, Mara Garcia Tavares
    Abstract:

    The present study standardizes a reproducible flow cytometry (FCM) protocol for DNA content measurement of bee species and applied it to Scaptotrigona and Melipona species. The mean nuclear DNA content value of male and female S. xantotricha was 0.42 pg (410.8 Mbp) and 0.44 pg (430.3 Mbp), respectively, while the mean haploid genome size was determined to be 0.93 pg (909.5 Mbp) for M. rufiventris and 0.95 pg (929.1 Mbp) for M. mondury. The variation observed in this study, albeit in a preliminary way, may be related with the variation in the heterochromatin content in the chromosomes of Scaptotrigona and Melipona species. The results provide a starting point for comparative analysis on the patterns of genome size variation in the stingless bees.

Lucio Antonio De Oliveira Campos - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Prediction of social structure and genetic relatedness in colonies of the facultative polygynous stingless bee Melipona bicolor (Hymenoptera, Apidae)
    Genetics and Molecular Biology, 2011
    Co-Authors: Evelyze Pinheiro Dos Reis, Lucio Antonio De Oliveira Campos, Mara Garcia Tavares
    Abstract:

    Abstract Stingless bee colonies typically consist of one single-mated mother queen and her worker offspring. The stinglessbee Melipona bicolor(Hymenoptera: Apidae) shows facultative polygyny, which makes this species particularly suit-ablefortestingtheoreticalexpectationsconcerningsocialbehavior.Inthisstudy,weinvestigatedthesocialstructureandgeneticrelatednessamongworkersfromeightnaturalandsixmanipulatedcoloniesofM.bicoloroveraperiodofone year. The populations of M. bicolorcontained monogynous and polygynous colonies. The estimated genetic re-latedness among workers from monogynous and polygynous colonies was 0.75 0.12 and 0.53 0.16 (mean SEM), respectively. Although the parental genotypes had significant effects on genetic relatedness in monogynousandpolygynouscolonies,polygynymarkedlydecreasedtherelatednessamongnestmateworkers.Ourfindingsalsodemonstrate that polygyny in M. bicolormay arise from the adoption of related or unrelated queens. Key words: Melipona , microsatellites, polygyny, queen number, social structure.Received: August 6, 2010; Accepted: December 21, 2010.

  • The first internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1) of Melipona species (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini): characterization and phylogenetic analysis
    Insectes Sociaux, 2005
    Co-Authors: T. M. Fernandes-salomão, Lucio Antonio De Oliveira Campos, Rodrigo Barros Rocha, Elza Fernandes De Araújo
    Abstract:

    Internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1) sequences of the nuclear rDNA of eight bee species of the genus Melipona were studied. Complete ITS-1 sequence and flanking regions from three Melipona species were PCR-amplified, cloned, sequenced, and their variability compared. These sequences show length variation (1391 to 1417 bp), several repeated elements of one, two, three, and four nucleotides, and a repeated tandem sequence of approximately 80 bp. The low variation level between M. quadrifasciata and M. mandacaia sequences supports the hypothesis that they diverged recently. PCR-amplification, cloning, and sequencing of a partial ITS-1 sequence (394 to 496 bp) of eight Melipona species and two outgroups were performed and the obtained sequences used for phylogenetic analysis. The single tree estimated from parsimony analysis recovered four well-defined clades and monophyly of the genus Melipona. The phylogenetic relationships derived from sequences of ITS-1 fragments corroborate the taxonomic classification of Melipona based on morphological characters.

  • Testis length distinguishes haploid from diploid drones in Melipona quadrifasciata (Hymenoptera: Meliponinae)
    Apidologie, 2003
    Co-Authors: Mara Garcia Tavares, Andre Irsigler, Lucio Antonio De Oliveira Campos
    Abstract:

    Testes length in diploid and haploid larvae drones of Melipona quadrifasciata were investigated to ascertain whether it is a good character to distinguish haploid from diploid drones. Two groups of haploid and two groups of diploid drones were compared. The results show that diploid males have shorter testes than haploid males. Another interesting observation was that whereas diploid males from different groups had testes of similar sizes, haploid males produced by different queens had testes which differed significantly in size. It is suggested that measurements of the testes length could be used to determine ploidy and contribute to the understanding of the population biology of this and other related Hymenoptera species. Melipona quadrifasciata / stingless bee / diploid drone / testicule

  • Genetic analysis of Melipona quadrifasciata Lep. (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponinae) with RAPD markers
    Brazilian Journal of Biology, 2002
    Co-Authors: A. M. Waldschmidt, P. Marco-junior, Everaldo Gonçalves De Barros, Lucio Antonio De Oliveira Campos
    Abstract:

    A abelha Melipona quadrifasciata Lep., conhecida popularmente como "mandacaia", apresenta duas subespecies: Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides e Melipona quadrifasciata quadrifasciata. Utilizando-se marcadores RAPD, foram calculadas as distâncias geneticas entre 69 colonias de Melipona quadrifasciata. Foram coletadas 10 operarias de cada colonia. As distâncias geneticas entre as colonias dessas regioes variaram de 29,5% (entre Sao Paulo e Minas Gerais) a 34,2% (entre Sao Paulo e Santa Catarina), indicando alto grau de similaridade genetica entre as abelhas provenientes de diferentes regioes. De acordo com a distância genetica, dois grupos podem ser distinguidos, um pertencente a subespecie M. q. quadrifasciata (regiao de Santa Catarina) e outro pertencente a subespecie M. q. anthidioides (demais regioes amostradas).

  • DNA characterization and karyotypic evolution in the bee genus Melipona (Hymenoptera, Meliponini)
    Hereditas, 2002
    Co-Authors: Marla Piumbini Rocha, Silvia Das Graças Pompolo, Jorge Abdala Dergam, Anderson Fernandes, Lucio Antonio De Oliveira Campos
    Abstract:

    We analyzed patterns of heterochromatic bands in the Neotropical stingless bee genus Melipona (Hymenoptera, Meliponini). Group I species (Melipona bicolor bicolor, Melipona quadrifasciata, Melipona asilvae, Melipona marginata, Melipona subnitida) were characterized by low heterochromatic content. Group II species (Melipona capixaba, Melipona compressipes, Melipona crinita, Melipona seminigra fuscopilosa e Meliponascutellaris) had high heterochromatic content. All species had 2n=18 and n=9. In species of Group I heterochromatin was pericentromeric and located on the short arm of acrocentric chromosomes, while in Group II species heterochromatin was distributed along most of the chromosome length. The most effective sequential staining was quinacrine mustard (QM)/distamycin (DA)/chromomycin A3(CMA3)/4–6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). Heterochromatic and euchromatic bands varied extensively within Group I. In Group II species euchromatin was restricted to the chromosome tips and it was uniformly GC+. Patterns of restriction enzymes (EcoRI, DraI, HindIII) showed that heterochromatin was heterogeneous. In all species the first pair of homologues was of unequal size and showed heteromorphism of a GC+ pericentromeric heterochromatin. In M. asilvae (Group I) this pair bore NOR and in M. compressipes (Group II) it hybridized with a rDNA FISH probe. As for Group I species the second pair was AT+ in M. subnitida and neutral for AT and GC in the remaining species of this group. Outgroup comparison indicates that high levels of heterochromatin represent a derived condition within Melipona. The pattern of karyotypic evolution sets Melipona in an isolated positionwithin the Meliponini.

Gislene Almeida Carvalho-zilse - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Diploid Male Production of Two Amazonian Melipona Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
    Psyche: A Journal of Entomology, 2012
    Co-Authors: Izaura Bezerra Francini, Carlos Gustavo Nunes-silva, Gislene Almeida Carvalho-zilse
    Abstract:

    The diploid male has already been recorded for Melipona Illger, and herein, in Melipona seminigra merrillae Cockerell and Melipona interrupta manaosensis Schwarz. This paper was carried out at the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia (INPA), Manaus, AM, Brazil. We produced and monitored 31 new colonies of M. s. merrillae and 32 new colonies of M. i. manaosensis. We sampled 2,995 pupae of M. s. merrillae and 2,020 of M. i. manaosensis. In colonies with a 1 : 1 sex ratio, male diploidy was confirmed by cytogenetic analysis and workers’ behavior. We estimated 16 sex-determining alleles in M. s. merrillae and 22 in M. i. manaosensis. In colonies of M. i. manaosensis in a 1 : 1 sex ratio, workers killed the males and the queen that produced them soon after they emerged, as predicted. This behavior was not registered for M. s. merrillae, and sex ratios did not stay 1 : 1, indicating polyandry for this species.

  • Cytogenetic analysis of the Amazon stingless bee Melipona seminigra merrillae reveals different chromosome number for the genus
    Scientia Agricola, 2011
    Co-Authors: Izaura Bezerra Francini, Maria Claudia Gross, Carlos Gustavo Nunes-silva, Gislene Almeida Carvalho-zilse
    Abstract:

    Cytogenetic analysis of the Amazon stingless bee Melipona seminigra merrillae, by conventional Giemsa staining and C-banding, revealed a different chromosome number for Melipona: 2n = 22 for females and diploid drones while the haploid drones present n = 11. There is no evidence of B chromosomes. This result contrasts with previous studies, in which the chromosome number of 19 Melipona species was determined as 2n = 18 for females and n = 9 for haploid males. Based on cytogenetic information available for other Melipona species, we propose that M. s. merrillae has a more derived diploid number. This indicates that chromosome number is not a conservative characteristic within the genus as previously thought. Cytogenetic data for stingless bees are scarce, especially in Amazon region. Additional studies will be very important in order to promote Melipona karyoevolution discussion and consequently a taxonomy review.

  • Five egg-laying queens in a single colony of brazilian stingless bees (Melipona scutellaris Latreille
    Acta Amazonica, 2011
    Co-Authors: Carlos Alfredo Lopes De Carvalho, Bruno De Almeida Souza, Rogério Marcos De Oliveira Alves, Carleandro De Souza Dias, Alex Fábio De Lima Melo, Ana Cristina Fermino Soares, Gislene Almeida Carvalho-zilse
    Abstract:

    Polygyny, characterized by the presence of several egg-laying queens, is considered as a temporary colony status. In stingless bees it is rarely observed. This paper reports the first case of natural polygyny in Melipona scutellaris colony, with five egg-laying queens.

  • Microsatellite loci for an endemic stingless bee Melipona seminigra merrillae (Apidae, Meliponini) from Amazon
    Conservation Genetics Resources, 2009
    Co-Authors: Izaura Bezerra Francini, Carlos Gustavo Nunes-silva, Danilo Augusto Sforça, A. C. B. Sousa, Tatiana De Campos, F. W. Cidade, Maria Imaculada Zucchi, Anete Pereira De Souza, Gislene Almeida Carvalho-zilse
    Abstract:

    Melipona seminigra merrillae is one of the main pollinators of Central Amazon native flora. These stingless bees are reared as economic alternative and for forest conservation purposes. Nine polymorphic microsatellite markers were characterized in 44 genotypes of M. seminigra merrillae from the Meliponary of the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia, INPA (3° 05.838′S 059° 59.103′W), Manaus, Brazil. The number of alleles observed for each locus ranged from 3 to 8, with an average of 3.7 alleles per locus. The polymorphism information content (PIC) varied between 0.21 and 0.81 (average 0.50) and the discriminating power (D) ranged from 0.59 to 0.98 (average 0.77). The observed heterozygosity (Ho) and the expected heterozygosity (He) were 0.04–0.68 and 0.19–0.84, respectively. A cross-amplification test in three Melipona species suggested potential transferability of these microsatellites. These microsatellite markers should be useful for characterizing natural populations and specie conservation.

Ana Maria Bonetti - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • epigenetic modifications and their relation to caste and sex determination and adult division of labor in the stingless bee Melipona scutellaris
    Genetics and Molecular Biology, 2017
    Co-Authors: Carlos A M Cardosojunior, Patricia Tieme Fujimura, Celio Dias Santosjunior, Naiara Araujo Borges, Carlos Ueiravieira, Klaus Hartfelder, Luiz Ricardo Goulart, Ana Maria Bonetti
    Abstract:

    Stingless bees of the genus Melipona, have long been considered an enigmatic case among social insects for their mode of caste determination, where in addition to larval food type and quantity, the genotype also has a saying, as proposed over 50 years ago by Warwick E. Kerr. Several attempts have since tried to test his Mendelian two-loci/two-alleles segregation hypothesis, but only recently a single gene crucial for sex determination in bees was evidenced to be sex-specifically spliced and also caste-specifically expressed in a Melipona species. Since alternative splicing is frequently associated with epigenetic marks, and the epigenetic status plays a major role in setting the caste phenotype in the honey bee, we investigated here epigenetic chromatin modification in the stingless bee Melipona scutellaris. We used an ELISA-based methodology to quantify global methylation status and western blot assays to reveal histone modifications. The results evidenced DNA methylation/demethylation events in larvae and pupae, and significant differences in histone methylation and phosphorylation between newly emerged adult queens and workers. The epigenetic dynamics seen in this stingless bee species represent a new facet in the caste determination process in Melipona bees and suggest a possible mechanism that is likely to link a genotype component to the larval diet and adult social behavior of these bees.

  • Sequencing of the whole mitochondrial genome of the Brazilian stingless bee; Melipona scutellaris.
    BMC Proceedings, 2014
    Co-Authors: Manuella Souza Silverio, Ana Maria Bonetti, Carlos Ueira Vieira, Cynara De Melo Rodovalho
    Abstract:

    Background In the America, from Mexico to Argentina, the genus Melipona has a great diversity of species, mainly in the Amazonian region, and a crucial pollination role. It is already well-known the importance of Brazilian stingless bees as pollinators, as well as producers of good honey, pollen, wax and propolis [1]. The present study is about the characterization of the mitochondrial genome of Melipona scutellaris, a Brazilian stingless bee, commonly found in the Northeast Region [2]. At first, the characterization of bees was based mostly on morphological and behavioral criteria. With advances in molecular biology, such visual criteria proved not to be reliable in all cases. Since the mitochondrial genome is well conserved among this animal species, it has been effectively used as a phylogenetic and evolutionary tool. Furthermore, the interaction between mitochondrial and nuclear genomes has important functions in the gene regulation of both [3]. Basically, the mitochondrial genome is about 16 kb long and it is composed approximately of 37 genes, of which there are the two ribosomal subunits (12S and 16S), 22 tRNAs and 13 proteins (three subunits of cytochrome oxidase, cytochrome B, subunits 6 and 8 of ATP synthase and seven subunits of NADH dehydrogenase) and still an A/T repetitive region [1]. In this study, our reference organism is the Melipona bicolor, a stingless bee also found in Brazil.

  • Preliminary Characterization of Mitochondrial Genome of Melipona scutellaris, a Brazilian Stingless Bee
    BioMed Research International, 2014
    Co-Authors: Manuella Souza Silverio, Ana Maria Bonetti, Vinícius De Rezende Rodovalho, Guilherme Oliveira, Sara Cuadros-orellana, Carlos Ueira-vieira, Anderson Rodrigues Dos Santos
    Abstract:

    Bees are manufacturers of relevant economical products and have a pollinator role fundamental to ecosystems. Traditionally, studies focused on the genus Melipona have been mostly based on behavioral, and social organization and ecological aspects. Only recently the evolutionary history of this genus has been assessed using molecular markers, including mitochondrial genes. Even though these studies have shed light on the evolutionary history of the Melipona genus, a more accurate picture may emerge when full nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of Melipona species become available. Here we present the assembly, annotation, and characterization of a draft mitochondrial genome of the Brazilian stingless bee Melipona scutellaris using Melipona bicolor as a reference organism. Using Illumina MiSeq data, we achieved the annotation of all protein coding genes, as well as the genes for the two ribosomal subunits (16S and 12S) and transfer RNA genes as well. Using the COI sequence as a DNA barcode, we found that M. cramptoni is the closest species to M. scutellaris.

  • Differentially displayed expressed sequence tags in Melipona scutellaris (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini) development.
    Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, 2006
    Co-Authors: Flávia Assumpção Santana, Francis M. F. Nunes, Carlos Ueira Vieira, Maria Alice M. S. Machado, Warwick Estevam Kerr, Wilson A. Silva, Ana Maria Bonetti
    Abstract:

    We have compared gene expression, using the Differential Display Reverse Transcriptase - Polymerase Chain Reaction (DDRT-PCR) technique, by means of mRNA profile in Melipona scutellaris during ontogenetic postembryonic development, in adult worker, and in both Natural and Juvenile Hormone III-induced adult queen. Six, out of the nine ESTs described here, presented differentially expressed in the phases L1 or L2, or even in both of them, suggesting that key mechanisms to the development of Melipona scutellaris are regulated in these stages. The combination HT11G-AP05 revealed in L1 and L2 a product which matches to thioredoxin reductase protein domain in the Clostridium sporogenes, an important protein during cellular oxidoreduction processes. This study represents the first molecular evidence of differential gene expression profiles toward a description of the genetic developmental traits in the genus Melipona.

  • Sex determination in bees. XXX. Effects of juvenile hormone on the development of tergal glands in Melipona
    Journal of Apicultural Research, 1994
    Co-Authors: Ana Maria Bonetti, Carminda Da Cruz-landim, Warwick Estevam Kerr
    Abstract:

    SUMMARYWorker larvae of Melipona rufiventris, M. quadrifasciata and M. compressipes were treated topically with juvenile hormone (JH) during the cocoon-spinning phase. Examination of the tergites of the queens obtained following JH application showed induced differentiation into adults with full female (queen) traits. Melipona workers had tergal glands only in tergite II, whereas natural and JH-induced queens had tergal glands in tergite II plus additional glands in at least one other of tergites III to VII.

A. M. Waldschmidt - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Mating frequency and maternity of males in Melipona mondury (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
    Insectes Sociaux, 2015
    Co-Authors: Machado Viana, A.k. De Francisco, C.a.l. Carvalho, H. A. C. Sousa, A. M. Waldschmidt
    Abstract:

    In eusocial bees, multiple mating can increase colony fitness, but decreases relatedness between female offspring and causes a conflict between workers for male parentage. In this work, the paternity and maternity of males in Melipona mondury were evaluated using microsatellite loci. Contrary to expectation, 78 % of M. mondury queens had multiple mates (2–7 mates). The genetic relatedness between sister workers ranged from 0.53 to 0.90 in polyandrous colonies. The production of males by workers ranged from 0 to 100 %, with a mean value of 50 %, following the common pattern reported for stingless bees, mainly Melipona species. The high worker–worker relatedness in polyandrous colonies favored worker reproduction. These results corroborate inclusive fitness theory and can support future conservation genetics studies of stingless bees.

  • Transferability of microsatellite primers developed for stingless bees to four other species of the genus Melipona.
    Genetics and Molecular Research, 2011
    Co-Authors: Machado Viana, E.a. Miranda, A.k. De Francisco, C.a.l. Carvalho, A. M. Waldschmidt
    Abstract:

    Microsatellite markers are a useful tool for ecological monitoring of natural and managed populations. A technical limitation is the necessity for investment in the development of primers. Heterologous primers can provide an alternative to searching for new loci. In bees, these markers have been used in populational and intracolonial genetic analyses. The genus Melipona has the largest number of species among bee genera, about 70, occurring throughout the Neotropical region. However, only five species of the genus Melipona have specific microsatellite markers. Given the great diversity of this genus, this number is not representative. We analyzed the transferability of 49 microsatellite loci to four other species of the genus Melipona (M. scutellaris, M. mondury, M. mandacaia, and M. quadrifasciata). Four individuals of each species, from different localities, were used in amplification tests. Primer pairs described for five Melipona species and for Trigona carbonaria were tested. Among the 49 loci,

  • Longitudinal differentiation in Melipona mandacaia (Hymenoptera, Meliponini) chromosomes
    Hereditas, 2003
    Co-Authors: M. P. Rocha, Anderson Fernandes, A. M. Waldschmidt, M. P. Cruz, J. C. Silva-junior, Silvia Das Graças Pompolo
    Abstract:

    Melipona mandacaia is a stingless bee endemic to northeast Brasil. We describe the M. mandacaia karyotype using C-banding technique, fluorochrome staining and treatment with restriction enzymes and discuss the position of this species in the context of the phylogeny of the genus. Melipona mandacaia has 2n =18 (14 SM + 2M + 2A ). Heterochromatin was detected in the pericentromeric region of pairs 1, 2 and 8 and in the form of small blocks in the remaining pairs. Staining with base-specific fluorochromes showed that this heterochromatin was rich AT (QM and DAPI), except in the region corresponding to the NOR which was rich GC (CMA3) and was cleaved by the HaeIII enzyme. Melipona mandacaia is a member of Group I Melipona. Treatment with DraI/Giemsa discloses a larger number of bands than treatment with DraI/QM. Pre-cleavage with DraI gave rise to a larger number of bands following QM staining; a circumstance evidently due to a removal of the DNA-protein complex that prevented the association of the fluorochrome with AT-rich DNA. The results highlight the complex nature of heterochromatin.

  • Genetic analysis of Melipona quadrifasciata Lep. (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponinae) with RAPD markers
    Brazilian Journal of Biology, 2002
    Co-Authors: A. M. Waldschmidt, P. Marco-junior, Everaldo Gonçalves De Barros, Lucio Antonio De Oliveira Campos
    Abstract:

    A abelha Melipona quadrifasciata Lep., conhecida popularmente como "mandacaia", apresenta duas subespecies: Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides e Melipona quadrifasciata quadrifasciata. Utilizando-se marcadores RAPD, foram calculadas as distâncias geneticas entre 69 colonias de Melipona quadrifasciata. Foram coletadas 10 operarias de cada colonia. As distâncias geneticas entre as colonias dessas regioes variaram de 29,5% (entre Sao Paulo e Minas Gerais) a 34,2% (entre Sao Paulo e Santa Catarina), indicando alto grau de similaridade genetica entre as abelhas provenientes de diferentes regioes. De acordo com a distância genetica, dois grupos podem ser distinguidos, um pertencente a subespecie M. q. quadrifasciata (regiao de Santa Catarina) e outro pertencente a subespecie M. q. anthidioides (demais regioes amostradas).

  • Genetic analysis of Melipona quadrifasciata LEP. (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponinae) with RAPD markers.
    Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia, 2002
    Co-Authors: A. M. Waldschmidt, P. Marco-junior, Everaldo Gonçalves De Barros, L. A. O. Campos
    Abstract:

    Melipona quadrifasciata ("mandaçaia") can be subdivided into two subspecies: M. q. anthidioides and M. q. quadrifasciata. In the present study we used RAPD markers to estimate intercolonial genetic variation among 69 colonies of Melipona quadrifasciata. Ten workers per colony were analyzed. The intercolony genetic distances based on RAPD markers ranged from 29.5% (colonies collected in the State of São Paulo vs colonies from the State of Minas Gerais) to 34.2% (São Paulo vs Santa Catarina). These results indicate a high genetic similarity among the colonies analyzed. According to the genetic distances two different groups could be distinguished. The first containing the samples from Santa Catarina region and the second, samples from Paraná, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Espírito Santo. Based on the molecular analysis, bees belonging to the different subspecies M. q. quadrifasciata (from Santa Catarina) and M. q. anthidiodes (from the other regions) were distinguished.

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