Impact of Apis mellifera on the bee-plant trophic interaction network in post-mining restoration areas in the Amazon

Abstract

To investigate how plant-pollinator ecological interactions are affected by habitat modification, and to provide information to support restoration efforts, we characterized trophic interaction networks between bees and plants in a natural regeneration area and forest edge environments in a post-bauxite mining area in the eastern Amazon. For this purpose, bees were collected on the flowers of Gouania cornifolia Reissek (Rhamnaceae), an ordinary native liana in the studied areas, which plays a crucial role in post-mining regeneration by enhancing ecosystem interaction networks between plants and pollinators, and attracting a diversity of floral visitors. The pollen deposited on the bees’ bodies was removed, and through palynology, the plant species that bees visited to collect food were identified. Subsequently, a presence-absence matrix was constructed, trophic interaction networks were created, and metrics analyses were performed. Forest edge areas showed greater native bee diversity, a higher richness of pollen types, and a more nested interaction network with the exclusion of the exotic species Apis mellifera compared to natural regeneration areas. Apis mellifera exploited a greater richness of floral sources due to its wide foraging range, which allowed for movement between different environments, including preserved forest, forest edge, and natural regeneration. This exotic bee alters the structure of interaction networks, being more evident in areas of natural regeneration. We found that bee-plant networks at forest edges demonstrated greater resilience compared to those in natural regeneration areas, emphasizing the importance of preserved forest environments in the recovery of ecological networks.