Orchid bees in riparian and terra-firme forest fragments in an urban matrix in southwestern Brazilian Amazonia

ABSTRACT Riparian forests are important ecosystems that support an enormous biodiversity in Brazil. Despite being protected under Brazilian legislation, these suffer great impact from the fragmentation of habitats. Orchid bees a key group pollinators Neotropical region, yet few data available on assamblage structure riparian forests. We evaluated role fragments and terra-firme forest conservation maintenance orchid urban landscape southwestern Amazon basin. Specifically, we whether bee assemblages differed significantly abundance, species richness composition. also abundance vary with size fragment. Male were attracted using odoriferous baits collected entomological nets 10 fragments. There was no significant difference between composition, but there positive correlation fragment abundance. Our results suggest that, landscape, remaining still could maintain 62.7% known to occur reinforcing value remnants. findings indicate provide potentially habitat for local populations landscape.