Annual survival rate of tropical stingless bee colonies (Meliponini): variation among habitats at the landscape scale in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Stingless social bees live in perennial colonies whose longevity is influenced by various ecological factors. This study analyzed the influence of habitat anthropization and native forest regeneration stage on natural at landscape scale. Random sampling 25x25m plots, totaling 30ha per type, located monitored 118 nests 14 species 105 six anthropic habitat. Significant differences colony were observed between young long-lived forests anthropized Shorter longevities have generally been associated with a set smaller-bodied residing habitats. The greatest three abundant exclusive species, was similar two stages: Melipona scutellaris, Scaptotrigona xanthotricha bipunctata had high annual survival rates ranging from 87% to 93%. Another Tetragonisca angustula, small habitat-generalist short (63%) that varied among Euclidean distance analysis based this generalist placed closest habitat, grouped replicates forest. Considering spatial variation life history traits, we infer that, prospective habitats, Atlantic Forest favors stingless colonial longevity. On other hand, generalists, such as T. shorter reproduction are being favored expansion habitats place deforested areas.