Abstract

The impact of forest exploitation on Amazonian stingless bees (Apidae, Meliponini)

The protocols available to sustainably exploit natural forest resources are known as “sustainable forest management”. This type of management generally does not take into account the effect of timber exploitation on pollinators. Stingless bees, which include many species that play an important role as pollinators and are quite diverse in the Amazon, preferentially make their perennial nests in the base of hollow trees. Normally, during sustainable exploitation of trees, hollow trees are not cut down; however, predatory exploitation of such trees could severely affect natural populations of this pollinator group.

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