Abstract
Bees represent efficient bioindicators of environmental contamination, including elements that can accumulate in both biomes and bee-derived products. Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate the presence of metallic elements over the body surface of Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides workers from rural and urban areas from Caatinga in Brazil. Using SEM/XEDS (scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) identified magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), molybdenum (Mo), cadmium (Cd), barium (Ba), and lead (Pb) in the corbiculae of bees. The areas had similar profiles, but As was characterized as a "trace element" in the agricultural area and "minor element" in the urban area. The presence of toxic elements such as As, Cd, and Pb indicates that both areas may be contaminated, revealing the importance of metallic elements microanalysis in native bee species for environmental biomonitoring.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.