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19th-century bee cells in a Panamanian cathedral shed light on human impact on ecosystems

Date:
January 27, 2020
Source:
Pensoft Publishers
Summary:
About 120 clusters of 19th-century orchid bee nests were found during restoration work on the altarpiece of Basilica Cathedral in Casco Viejo (Panamá). Having conducted the first pollen analysis for these extremely secretive insects, the researchers identified the presence of 48 plant species, representing 23 families. The findings give a precious insight into the role of natural ecosystems, their component species and the human impact on them.
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Despite being "neotropical-forest-loving creatures," some orchid bees are known to tolerate habitats disturbed by human activity. However, little did the research team of Paola Galgani-Barraza (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute) expect to find as many as 120 clusters of nearly two-centuries-old orchid bee nests built on the altarpiece of the Basilica Cathedral in Casco Viejo (Panamá). 

This happened after restoration work, completed in 2018 in preparation for the consecration of a new altar by Pope Francis, revealed the nests. Interestingly, many cells were covered with gold leaf and other golden material applied during an earlier restoration following an 1870 fire, thus aiding the reliable determination of the age of the clusters. The cells were dated to the years prior to 1871-1876.

The bee species, that had once constructed the nests, was identified as the extremely secretive Eufriesea surinamensis. Females are known to build their nests distant from each other, making them very difficult to locate in the field. As a result, there is not much known about them: neither about the floral resources they collect for food, nor about the materials they use to build their nests, nor about the plants they pollinate.

However, by analysing the preserved pollen for the first time for this species, the researchers successfully detected the presence of 48 plant species, representing 43 genera and 23 families. Hence, they concluded that late-nineteenth century Panama City was surrounded by a patchwork of tropical forests, sufficient to sustain nesting populations of what today is a forest-dwelling species of bee.

Not only did the scientists unveil important knowledge about the biology of orchid bees and the local floral diversity in the 19th century, but they also began to uncover key information about the functions of natural ecosystems and their component species, where bees play a crucial role as primary pollinators. Thus, the researchers hope to reveal how these environments are being modified by collective human behaviour, which is especially crucial with the rapidly changing environment that we witness today.


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Materials provided by Pensoft Publishers. The original story is licensed under a Creative Commons License. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Paola Galgani-Barraza, Jorge Enrique Moreno, Sofia Lobo, Wendy Tribaldos, David W. Roubik, William T. Wcislo. Flower use by late nineteenth-century orchid bees (Eufriesea surinamensis, Hymenoptera, Apidae) nesting in the Catedral Basílica Santa María la Antigua de Panamá. Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 2019; 74: 65 DOI: 10.3897/jhr.74.39191

Cite This Page:

Pensoft Publishers. "19th-century bee cells in a Panamanian cathedral shed light on human impact on ecosystems." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 27 January 2020. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200127134756.htm>.
Pensoft Publishers. (2020, January 27). 19th-century bee cells in a Panamanian cathedral shed light on human impact on ecosystems. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200127134756.htm
Pensoft Publishers. "19th-century bee cells in a Panamanian cathedral shed light on human impact on ecosystems." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200127134756.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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