Gut microbiota of Melipona capixaba
Following the Fundao dam collapse and subsequent tailings leak in the Rio Doce basin, conservation efforts are focused on the endangered stingless bee Melipona capixaba, an endemic species in Espirito Santo. This study aims to evaluate the toxicological impact of mining waste on these bees by analyzing the richness and abundance of their gut microbiota, a key health indicator, and quantifying heavy metal concentrations within both the bees' bodies and their nest products (honey, pollen, wax, and geopropolis). By comparing colonies in affected and unaffected regions, the research seeks to provide essential data to guide the conservation and recovery of this species amidst environmental contamination.