<b>Effect of nectar pillaging by native stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the abscission of flowers of <em>Bougainvillea spectabilis</em> Willd. (Nyctaginaceae)</b> - doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v33i4.8191 <b>Effect of nectar pillaging by native stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the abscission of flowers of <em>Bougainvillea spectabilis</em> Willd. (Nyctaginaceae)</b> - doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v33i4.8191

• Main Authors: Igor Inforzato, Paulo Alexandre Bogiani, Gisele Catian, Rodrigo Aranda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Estadual de Maringá 2011-09-01
• Series: Acta Scientiarum : Biological Sciences
• Subjects: insect-plant interaction; floral damage; neotropical bees; reproductive success; ornamental plant
• Online Access: http://www.periodicos.uem.br/ojs/index.php/ActaSciBiolSci/article/view/8191
• ISSN: 1679-9283; 1807-863X

This study had as objective to evaluate whether the pillaging activity by native bees influences floral abscission. Samples were collected in ten individuals of <em>Bougainvillea spectabilis</em>. In the period between May 4 and June 1^st, 2009, 2,874 flowers were collected on the ground and 2,895 from the plants, with three-day intervals between each collection and a total of 10 repetitions in each plant. We measured the total of closed flowers, open flowers, robbed flowers, normal flowers, open robbed flowers and non-robber open flowers, in both soil and plant. For the statistical analysis, the T-test was used to see whether there was a difference between the averages obtained from the evaluated characteristics between the soil flowers and plant flowers. Simple linear regression was used to see whether there was a relationship between the closed flowers and robbed closed flowers found on the ground and open flowers and non-robbed open flowers in the plant. There were significant differences regarding all variables measured between soil and plant. A correlation was found at both closed flowers and robbed closed flowers found on the ground and open flowers and non-robbed open flowers in the plant.<br>This study had as objective to evaluate whether the pillaging activity by native bees influences floral abscission. Samples were collected in ten individuals of <em>Bougainvillea spectabilis</em>. In the period between May 4 and June 1^st, 2009, 2,874 flowers were collected on the ground and 2,895 from the plants, with three-day intervals between each collection and a total of 10 repetitions in each plant. We measured the total of closed flowers, open flowers, robbed flowers, normal flowers, open robbed flowers and non-robber open flowers, in both soil and plant. For the statistical analysis, the T-test was used to see whether there was a difference between the averages obtained from the evaluated characteristics between the soil flowers and plant flowers. Simple linear regression was used to see whether there was a relationship between the closed flowers and robbed closed flowers found on the ground and open flowers and non-robbed open flowers in the plant. There were significant differences regarding all variables measured between soil and plant. A correlation was found at both closed flowers and robbed closed flowers found on the ground and open flowers and non-robbed open flowers in the plant.