Size and shape in Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides Lepeletier, 1836 (Hymenoptera; Meliponini).
This study aimed to identify differences in wing shape among populations of Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides obtained in 23 locations in the semi-arid region of Bahia state (Brazil). Analysis of the Procrustes distances among mean wing shapes indicated that population structure did not determine shape variation. Instead, populations were structured geographically according to wing size. The Partial Mantel Test between morphometric (shape and size) distance matrices and altitude, taking geographic distances into account, was used for a more detailed understanding of size and shape determinants. A partial Mantel test between morphometris (shape and size) variation and altitude, taking geographic distances into account, revealed that size (but not shape) is largely influenced by altitude (r = 0.54 p < 0.01). These results indicate greater evolutionary constraints for the shape variation, which must be directly associated with aerodynamic issues in this structure. The size, however, indicates that the bees tend to have larger wings in populations located at higher altitudes.
Escola Superior de Agricultura ?Luiz de Queiroz? - ESALQ/USP, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
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Nunes
Laboratório de Genética e Conservação de Recursos Naturais, Departamento de Biologia, Campus Universitário José Aloízio de Campos, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil.
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Núcleo de Estudo do Insetos Insecta, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Ambientais e Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Cruz das Almas, BA, Brazil.
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Carvalho
Laboratório de Genética e Conservação de Recursos Naturais, Departamento de Biologia, Campus Universitário José Aloízio de Campos, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil.
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D000531:Altitude; D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification*; D001938:Brazil; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000033:anatomy & histology*