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Isometric worker size variation in relation to individual foraging preference and seasonal colony growth in stingless bees

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Abstract

Isometric worker size variation has been found in various species of stingless bees but the adaptive value of this phenomenon is little understood. We studied intra-colony worker size variation in Melipona in relation to individual foraging preference and colony growth in periods of resource abundance and scarcity. We found significant forager size differences across colonies. In spite of this, intra-colony size of foragers collecting different resources was highly similar, suggesting that foraging preferences and flexibility are size constrained. On the other hand, inter-colony forager size was associated with parameters of colony growth, albeit differently, depending on the season. Our results suggest that isometric forager size may reflect the state of food storage, and thus, colony development in stingless bees. It seems that stingless bee communities respond to seasonal abundance and scarcity with variable cycles of individual colony growth and reduction of reserves that may explain the asynchronous reproduction of colonies, spanning years in these insects.

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Acknowledgments

We thank projects SAGARPA- CONACYT CO1-1556 “Rescate, conservación y mejoramiento genético de los recursos apícolas en México” and SEP-CONACyT 103341 “Conservación de las abejas sin aguijón de México” for financial support. We are deeply thankful to many students who helped during field and lab work, Paola Valladares, Jesica Perez, Jorge Ramirez, Arturo López, Manuel Cocom and Bernardo Avila. Our sincere thanks to two anonymous reviewers and the Editor for their comments and corrections of the manuscript.

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  1. Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias Departamento de Apicultura, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Merida, Mexico

    J. J. G. Quezada-Euán, W. de J. May-Itzá, E. Montejo & H. Moo-Valle

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  1. J. J. G. Quezada-Euán
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  2. W. de J. May-Itzá
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  3. E. Montejo
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  4. H. Moo-Valle
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Correspondence to J. J. G. Quezada-Euán.

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Quezada-Euán, J.J.G., May-Itzá, W.J., Montejo, E. et al. Isometric worker size variation in relation to individual foraging preference and seasonal colony growth in stingless bees. Insect. Soc. 62, 73–80 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-014-0376-0

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