Areas of endemism in the Atlantic Forest: quantitative biogeography insights from orchid bees (Apidae: Euglossini)

Abstract

Orchid bees are endemic to the Neotropics and were sampled more intensively in the Atlantic Forest in the last decade than in that of other Brazilian biomes. In this study, we aimed at identifying the main distributional patterns and areas of endemism of Euglossini orchid bee species in the Atlantic Forest using parsimony analysis of endemism and endemicity analysis. The results of these analyses were partly congruent and supported the idea that the distribution of orchid bees is structured into at least five areas of endemism: Pernambuco/coastal Bahia; Espirito Santo/Rio de Janeiro/south of Minas Gerais; north of Minas Gerais/central Bahia; southeast of Minas Gerais/northeast, central and coast of Sao Paulo/central and coastal Parana; and central/coast of Santa Catarina-Rio Grande do Sul. Most of these areas were consistent with other groups of organisms and indicate the existence of real areas of endemism in the Atlantic Rain Forest.