title: Genetic variability in five populations of Partamona helleri (Hymenoptera, Apidae) from Minas Gerais State, Brazil.
abstract: Partamona is a Neotropical genus of stingless bees that comprises 33 species distributed from Mexico to southern Brazil. These bees are well-adapted to anthropic environments and build their nests in several substrates. In this study, 66 colonies of Partamona helleri from five localities in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais (São Miguel do Anta, Teixeiras, Porto Firme, Viçosa and Rio Vermelho) were analyzed using nine microsatellite loci in order to assess their genetic variability. Low levels of observed (H(o) = 0.099-0.137) and expected (H (e) = 0.128-0.145) heterozygosity were encountered and revealed discrete genetic differentiation among the populations (F (ST) = 0.025). AMOVA further showed that most of the total genetic variation (94.24%) in P. helleri was explained by the variability within local populations.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG Brazil.
authors.forename: Andreia Arantes
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: Lucio Antônio
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Campos
authors.forename: Tânia Maria Fernandes
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Salomão
authors.forename: Mara Garcia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Tavares