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Biocultural Diversity Loss: the Decline of Native Stingless Bees (Apidae: Meliponini) and Local Ecological Knowledge in Michoacán, Western México

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Abstract

Local ecological knowledge (LEK) is of utmost importance for biodiversity conservation; however, a number of studies document the loss of LEK regarding native bees. Stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) are important pollinators that have been managed by humans in all tropical areas of the world. Our work documents the decline of Meliponini and associated LEK in the state of Michoacán, western Mexico, as well as local historical management and perceptions of the diversity and abundance of bees. Through ecological sampling, semi-structured interviews, and participant observation, we established the presence of 13 species of Meliponini and recognition of 23 local names. Although stingless bees’ pot-honey is harvested directly through extraction of wild nests, local knowledge about bee diversity, behavior, and use can contribute to their conservation. Because of recent access to manufactured products and the scarcity of wild nests, LEK and pot-honey harvest are being abandoned and forgotten in some areas. Maintaining LEK is important in designing sustainable use strategies to prevent the extinction of wild nests and allow conservation of bees as well as the cultural legacy associated with them, essential in the context of a global decline of pollinators.

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Acknowledgements

This paper is part of the PhD thesis of the first author. The first author gratefully acknowledges the Program in Sustainability Sciences, UNAM (Posgrado en Ciencias de la Sostenibilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México). Thanks to all informants and students who participated in the study for sharing their knowledge, hospitality, and assistance in fieldwork. Thanks also to two anonymous reviewers and to Ludomir R. Lozny for extensive editing.

Funding

This study was funded by Rufford Small Grants (24084–1) of The Rufford Foundation and by project “Saberes ambientales para la cogeneración de estrategias de manejo sustentable de socioecosistemas” (PAPIIT IN308418). Also, the first author received a graduate studies scholarship from Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Teconología (CONACyT) (489580).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Posgrado en Ciencias de la Sostenibilidad. Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Morelia. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico

    Alejandro Reyes-González

  2. Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico

    Andrés Camou-Guerrero

  3. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua carretera a Pátzcuaro No. 8701, Col. San José de la Huerta, 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico

    Ek del-Val

  4. Centro de Investigaciones en Geografía Ambiental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico

    M. Isabel Ramírez

  5. Red de Ecología Funcional, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Carretera antigua a Coatepec 351, El Haya C.P. 91073, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico

    Luciana Porter-Bolland

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  1. Alejandro Reyes-González
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  2. Andrés Camou-Guerrero
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  3. Ek del-Val
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  4. M. Isabel Ramírez
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  5. Luciana Porter-Bolland
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Bees sampling, material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Alejandro Reyes-González. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Alejandro Reyes-González, and all authors commented on and edited different versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Luciana Porter-Bolland.

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Reyes-González, A., Camou-Guerrero, A., del-Val, E. et al. Biocultural Diversity Loss: the Decline of Native Stingless Bees (Apidae: Meliponini) and Local Ecological Knowledge in Michoacán, Western México. Hum Ecol 48, 411–422 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-020-00167-z

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