title: Morphometric differences and fluctuating asymmetry in Melipona subnitida Ducke 1910 (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in different types of housing.
abstract: A geometric morphometrics approach was applied to evaluate differences in forewing patterns of the Jandaira bee (Melipona subnitida Ducke). For this, we studied the presence of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in forewing shape and size of colonies kept in either rational hive boxes or natural tree trunks. We detected significant FA for wing size as well as wing shape independent of the type of housing (rational box or tree trunks), indicating the overall presence of stress during the development of the studied specimens. FA was also significant (p < 0.01) between rational boxes, possibly related to the use of various models of rational boxes used for keeping stingless bees. In addition, a Principal Component Analysis indicated morphometric variation between bee colonies kept in either rational hive boxes or in tree trunks, that may be related to the different origins of the bees: tree trunk colonies were relocated natural colonies while rational box colonies originated from multiplying other colonies. We conclude that adequate measures should be taken to reduce the amount of stress during bee handling by using standard models of rational boxes that cause the least disruption.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Agrárias - PRPPGCA, Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia - UFRB, Rua Rui Barbosa, 710, Centro, CEP 44380-000, Cruz das Almas, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: C B S
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Genética Biodiversidade e Conservação - PPGGBC, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia - UESB, Rua José Moreira Sobrinho, s/n, Jequiezinho, CEP 45206-190, Jequié, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Agrárias - PRPPGCA, Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia - UFRB, Rua Rui Barbosa, 710, Centro, CEP 44380-000, Cruz das Almas, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: C A L
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Setor de Entomologia, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária - Embrapa, Rodovia BR-428, Km 152, Zona Rural, CP 23, CEP 56302-970, Petrolina, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Setor de Apicultura, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária - Embrapa, Av. Duque de Caxias, 5650, Bairro Buenos Aires, CP 001, CEP 64006-220, Teresina, PI, Brazil.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Agrárias - PRPPGCA, Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia - UFRB, Rua Rui Barbosa, 710, Centro, CEP 44380-000, Cruz das Almas, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: C S B
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006799:Housing, Animal; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000033:anatomy & histology*