Urban Forest Fragments Research Articles

Does urbanization decrease diversity in ground beetle (Carabidae) assemblages?

ABSTRACTAim We wanted to test whether urbanization has similar effects on biodiversity in different locations, comparing the responses of ground beetle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) assemblages with an urbanization gradient. We also wanted to see if urbanization had a homogenizing effect on ground beetle assemblages.Locations Nine forested temperate locations in Europe, Canada and Japan.Methods Published results of the Globenet Project were used. At all locations, three stages were identified: (1) a forested (rural) area, (2) a suburban area where the original forest was fragmented and isolated, and (3) remnants of the original forest in urban parks. These habitats formed an urbanization series. Study arrangements (number and operation of traps) and methods (pitfall trapping) were identical, conforming to the Globenet protocol. Assemblage composition and diversity patterns were evaluated. Diversity relationships were analysed by the Rényi diversity ordering method considering all ground beetles and – separately – the forest specialist species. Taxonomic homogenization was examined by multivariate methods using assemblage similarities.Results Overall biodiversity (compared by species richness and diversity ordering) showed inconsistent trends by either urbanization intensity or by geographic position. However, when only forest species were compared, diversity was higher in the original rural (forested) areas than in urban forest fragments. Within‐country similarities of carabid assemblages were always higher than within‐urbanization stage similarities.Main conclusions Urbanization does not appear to cause a decrease in ground beetle diversity per se. Forest species decline as urbanization intensifies but this trend is masked by an influx of non‐forest species. The rural faunas were more similar to the urban ones within the same location than similar urbanization stages were to each other, indicating that urbanization did not homogenize the taxonomic composition of ground beetle faunas across the studied locations.

Effectiveness and Biases of Winkler Litter Extraction and Pitfall Trapping for Collecting Ground-Dwelling Ants in Northern Temperate Forests

The sampling efficiency of pitfall traps and Winkler litter extraction in northern deciduous forests was compared using ants. Both techniques are among the most common methods used to measure the diversity of organisms active on the forest floor. During 2005-2006, 90 Winkler and 180 pitfall trap samples from urban forest fragments in northeastern Ohio obtained 9,203 ants representing 31 species. Winklers captured all 31 species, whereas pitfall traps collected a total of 24 species. Winkler samples accumulated species more rapidly than did pitfall traps and had greater total species richness and higher abundance of ants recorded. Consistent with other studies, Winkler sampling was found to catch a greater number of smaller ants, whereas pitfall trapping caught a greater number of large-bodied ants. According to estimates of expected species richness, the combination of the two sampling techniques allowed for the collection of approximately 90% of the ants expected in the surveyed area. Site variation had little effect on the inherent differences in sampling efficacy between the two methods. Either technique adequately collected samples for broad comparisons and documentation of the more typical and representative ant fauna, but Winkler extraction exhibited the advantage of a more complete inventory. The application of both techniques should be considered if the aims of a study require estimation of community properties, such as relative abundance.

Use of Forest Edges by Free-Ranging Cats and Dogs in an Urban Forest Fragment

Free-ranging Felis catus (Domestic Cat) and Canis familiaris (Domestic Dog) can greatly impact native prey populations, but little is known about their occurrence in urban forest fragments. In this study, we used camera traps to photograph (capture) cats, dogs, and native wildlife in a 409-ha urban forest in Birmingham, AL from Jan–Apr 2007. Habitat treatments included forest interior and forest edges by industrial lands, neighborhoods with higher house values, and neighborhoods with lower house values. We employed both conservative (n = 31) and liberal (n = 64) methods of tallying the number of individual dogs, cats, and native mammals captured. Dogs and cats combined comprised 19% (conservative) and 26% (liberal) of all photographic captures. Procyon lotor (Raccoon) were the most abundant of the 7 native species at 32% (conservative) and 53% (liberal) of all captures. Dogs were more abundant in neighborhood edges, and cats were more abundant in the forest interior. Cats and dogs combined were 75% (conservative) and 86% (liberal) of captures from the forest interior. Captures of native species were far more frequent in neighborhood edges (conservative = 86.9%, and liberal = 92.3%) than in other treatments. These findings demonstrate that exotic predators can be an important ecological presence in certain portions of urban forest fragments, and more extensive studies of their impact are needed.

Bat Response to Woodland Restoration within Urban Forest Fragments

In urban environments, woodland areas are typically fragmented and subject to invasive species encroachment, woody overgrowth, and natural succession. In response to negative impacts, conservationists and land managers have implemented restoration strategies to enhance the integrity of woodlands. Because woodland habitat is important for bats (Order Chiroptera), alterations to forest structures may affect how bats utilize forest fragments in urban environments. We evaluated relationships among restoration efforts, microhabitat characteristics and overall bat activity, and interspecific variation among bats in response to woodland characteristics. We monitored bats in nine woodland forest preserves representing various stages of restoration within the Chicago metropolitan area in 2004 and 2005. Overall bat activity was positively related to prescribed burning, invasive species removal, and small tree density (7.7-20 cm dbh) and inversely related to shrub density and clutter at 0-6 m heights. There was interspecific variation in response to alterations in woodland structure, with Lasiurus borealis (L. borealis) positively associated with small and medium (20.1-33 cm) tree densities and inversely related to clutter at 0-9 m; Myotis spp. positively associated with canopy cover, clutter at 6-9 m, and small and medium tree densities; and Lasionycteris noctivagans (L. noctivagans) positively associated with more open forests. Eptesicus fuscus (E. fuscus) activity was not strongly associated with any measured vegetation variable. Our results demonstrate bats positively respond to some forms of woodland restoration in urban landscapes. However, species-specific responses to vegetation differed and should be taken into consideration when developing management plans.

Landscape Effects on Ecosystems: Birds as Active Vectors of Nutrient Transport to Fragmented Urban Forests Versus Forest-Dominated Landscapes

In urban landscapes, nearby birds contribute to allochthonous nutrient flow from residential areas to fragmented forests by consuming food in residential areas and depositing feces in forests. To estimate allochthonous nutrient flow qualitatively, the stable nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) isotope approach is useful. However, the quantitative allochthonous flow rate cannot be estimated by the stable-isotope approach. To quantify allochthonous input, we compare two different landscapes. We assume that the input rate in deep forests in the forest-dominated landscape is the basic autochthonous flow that is common to various forests, and estimate the allochthonous nutrient input by subtracting the autochthonous flow from the total input in urban forests. The observed nutrient-input rate in the forest-dominated landscape as the autochthonous flow is 0.0298 kg P ha−1 y−1 and 0.319 kg N ha−1 y−1. Using these values, the allochthonous P input (kg P ha−1 y−1) is estimated at 0.0307 in urban fragmented forests and 2.31 in forests with crow roosts, whereas N input (kg N ha−1 y−1) is 0.397 in urban fragmented forests and 23.2 in forests with crow roosts. Our estimation shows that, in urban forests with roosts, birds contribute 2.7 times the amount of allochthonous P contributed via other pathways, and in urban forests without roosts they contribute 0.035 times the amount; and in addition, birds contribute 0.66 times the amount of allochthonous N input via other pathways in urban forests with crow roosts and 0.011 times the amount in urban forests without roosts. We also measure stable nitrogen and carbon isotope ratios, %N, %P, and %C to estimate the diet of birds. High δ15N and δ13C values in crow roosts indicate that they eat foods such as livestock meat, C4 maize, or fish. High avian biomass is the major reason for the large nutrient input in urban landscapes, especially in urban forests with crow roosts.

Patterns of Plant Composition in Fragments of Globally Imperiled Pine Rockland Forest: Effects of Soil Type, Recent Fire Frequency, and Fragment Size

Maintaining native plant diversity through fire management is challenging in the wildland-urban interface. In subtropical South Florida, fragments of fire-dependent, globally imperiled pine rockland forest are scattered throughout urban areas. To determine the effects of recent fire frequency, major soil type, and fragment size on species composition, we measured understory vascular plant presence and cover in 162 plots distributed among 16 publicly-owned pine rockland preserves in 1995 and 2003. Fragments received either 0, 1, or > 1 burn(s) between sampling periods. Native plant richness was very high overall. Major soil type, which varies regionally and is associated with latitude and elevation, strongly influenced the assemblage of species present at a given site. Native species cover was significantly different across different burn categories. Fragment size was positively associated with plant species richness, but small fragments had high variance in the total number of native plant species they supported, with some having nearly as many plant species as the largest fragment. Examining trends over time for rare native and invasive non-native plant species revealed the spread of the invasive grass Rhynchelytrum repens (Willd.) C.E. Hubb. and showed no major decreases in rare plant species. In general, this study provided encouraging results for managers of small urban forest fragments, showing that they can maintain high levels of native plant diversity, even when fire occurs infrequently.

Habitat use by a tree frog species of Scinax (Amphibia, Hylidae) at an urban forest fragment from south-eastern Brazil

We studied the pattern of habitat use by the tree frog Scinax aff. perereca. Fieldworks were performed from August 1996 to August 1997 at Parque das Mangabeiras, Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Calling males were observed in September, October and December 1996, February to April and June 1997. Females were found only in October 1996. Specimens were found perched on vegetation, on the ground or on stones near waterfall. At Parque das Mangabeiras, S. aff. perereca occupied nine types of substrata. The most frequently used substrata were shrubs, stones at the stream edges, and fallen trunks. The pattern of spatial occupation varied among months. Males were found calling in aggregations on the vegetation and spatial niche breadth was related to species abundance.

Time-consistent rearrangement of carabid beetle assemblages by an urbanisation gradient in Hungary

To examine the impact of urbanisation on arthropod biodiversity, carabid (Coleoptera: Carabidae) assemblages were studied over 2 years along a rural–urban gradient representing increasing levels of human disturbance. Carabids were collected by pitfall trapping during their whole activity period in lowland oak forest patches in and near the city of Debrecen, Eastern Hungary, over two seasons (2001–2002). Carabid activity density was significantly higher in the rural than in the two other areas, but there was no significant difference in species richness (measured as mean number of species caught/trap). The proportion of forest specialists significantly decreased from the rural towards the urban area, and the proportion of forest specialist species was significantly higher in the rural and suburban areas than in the urban one. In contrast, the relative activity density of generalist species significantly increased along the rural–urban gradient. Both the relative number of open-habitat species and their activity density were significantly higher in the urban forest fragments than in the suburban and rural ones. The patterns found were consistent between the 2 years. Multidimensional scaling indicated pronounced changes in species composition along the gradient; the assemblages in urban forest fragments were more variable than in the other areas. A large proportion of the variation in overall activity density, species richness and the proportion of carabids with different habitat affinities could be explained by structural habitat variables (percentage cover by canopy, leaf litter, herbs and decaying wood), and prey availability.

Use of space by neotropical marsupial Didelphis albiventris (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) in an urban forest fragment

A population of the Neotropical marsupial Didelphis albiventris (Lund, 1840) living in an urban forest fragment was studied. Population structure and the influence of sex and age on two variables related to habitat use (Daily home range - MCP and Habitat use intensity - UI) obtained by the spool-and-line technique were analysed. There were 20 males and 29 females studied (N = 49). No sexual dimorphism was apparent in adult individuals. There were 16 males and 24 females tracked using the spool-and-line device. There were significant differences found in the mean size of the daily home range, which was greater in adults than in sub-adults. Regarding the habitat use intensity there were also significant differences related to age. There were no significant differences in MCP and UI related to the sex of the individuals. Besides the analyzed factors, the variables related to habitat use are possibly influenced by other factors, especially, the ones related to the conservation status of the fragment.

Edge effects and trampling in boreal urban forest fragments – impacts on the soil microbial community

Fragmentation of forest ecosystems increases the proportion of edge habitat and is accompanied by a change in plant species composition. The recreational use of urban forests leads to decreased vegetation cover and the formation of paths, and thus, to fragmentation at small scales. We studied the impacts of forest and path edge effects on the soil microbial community structure (by using the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) method) and microbial activity (measured as basal respiration) in 34 mesic boreal urban forest fragments in Finland. We sampled the humus layer 1) from the forest edge into the interior (0–80 m), and 2) at different distances from paths. Microbial community structure was only slightly affected by the forest edge but differences were found between distances of 0–10 m and over 50 m from the edge. These changes correlated with changes in soil pH. Although changes in the microbial community structure were not pronounced, microbial biomass and activity were 30–45% lower at the first 20 m into the forest fragments, due to a low moisture content of the humus near the edge. The decreased microbial activity detected at forest edges implies decreased litter decomposition rates, and thus, a change in ecosystem nutrient cycling. The microbial community structure differed between paths and surrounding areas and correlated with changes in soil pH. Paths also supported approximately 25–30% higher microbial biomass with a transition zone of at least 1 m from the path edge. Path associated disturbances (mainly alterations in vegetation and soil pH) were reflected in the soil microbial community structure up to 1.5 m from the paths.

Larval redescription of Microstigma maculatum Hagen in Selys, 1860 (Odonata: Pseudostigmatidae) from Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

The last-instar larva of Microstigma maculatum Hagen in Selys, 1860 is redescribed and illustrated based on a reared larva collected in a water-filled hole of a fallen tree trunk within an urban forest fragment in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.

The effects of habitat edges and trampling on understorey vegetation in urban forests in Helsinki, Finland

AbstractQuestion:How do habitat edges and trampling affect mesic (Myrtillustype) understorey vegetation in fragmented urban forests, and what are the relative strengths and spatial extent of these effects?Location:The city of Helsinki, southern Finland.Methods:Vegetation sample plots were placed at different distances from the forest edge. At each distance we selected plots on, next to and away from paths of different levels of wear, and the covers and frequencies of plant species were sampled. We used generalized linear mixed models and ordination techniques to test our hypotheses.Results:The effect of the edge penetrated up to 50 m into the forest interior. Only light effects of trampling were found in seemingly untrampled areas, in addition to the direct effects of trampling on the paths. Both trampling and edge effects changed the forest understorey species composition. Trampling changed plant species composition locally on paths, and provided opportunities for new species to establish in previously unbroken forest vegetation. Urban forest edges were characterised by species better adapted to sunny, warm and dry conditions. These species, such as grasses, replaced more sensitive forest species, such as dwarf shrubs and mosses. We observed a large number of light demanding deciduous trees at the edges, which may be one of the factors increasing soil fertility and consequently promoting the high abundance of fast growing species, such as grasses and herbs related to more fertile site types.Conclusions:We recommend that urban forest fragments left within urban development should be at least 2–3 ha in size and that the shape of the patch and the number of potential recreational users should be taken into account when preserving true forest understorey vegetation from the effects of edges and trampling.

Effects of recreational use and fragmentation on the understorey vegetation and soil microbial communities of urban forests in southern Finland

The impacts of fragmentation and recreational use on the hemiboreal urban forest understorey vegetation and the microbial community of the humus layer (the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) pattern, microbial biomass and microbial activity, measured as basal respiration) were examined in the greater Helsinki area, southern Finland. Trampling tolerance of 1) herb-rich OMT, 2) mesic MT, and 3) sub-xeric VT forests (in decreasing order of fertility) was studied by comparing relative understorey vegetation cover (urban/untrampled reference ratio) of the three forest types. The trampling tolerance of forest vegetation increased with the productivity of the site (sub-xeric < mesic < herb-rich). Wear of understorey vegetation correlated positively with the number of residents (i.e., recreational pressure) around the forest patch. An increase of 15000 residents within a radius of 1 km around a forest patch was associated with ca. 30% decrease in the relative understorey vegetation cover. The cover of dwarf shrub Vaccinium myrtillus in particular decreased with increasing levels of wear. The cover of mosses in urban forests was less than half of that in untrampled reference areas. Cover of tree saplings, mainly Sorbus aucuparia, and some resilient herbs was higher than in the reference areas. In small urban forest fragments, broad-leaved trees, grasses and herbs were more abundant and mosses were scarcer than in larger urban forest areas. Thus, due to trampling and edge effects, resilient herb and grass species are replacing sensitive dwarf shrubs, mosses and lichens in urban forests. Differences in the soil microbial community structure were found between paths and untrampled areas and the effects of paths extended more than one meter from the paths. Paths supported approximately 25-30% higher microbial biomass with a transition zone of at least 1 m from the path edge. However, microbial activity per unit of biomass was lower on paths than in untrampled areas. Furthermore, microbial biomass and activity were 30-45% lower at the first 20 m into the forest fragments, due to low moisture content of humus near the edge. The decreased microbial activity detected at forest edges and paths implies decreased litter decomposition rates, and thus, a change in nutrient cycling. Changes in the decomposition and nutrient supply may in turn affect the diversity and function of plant communities in urban forests.

Riqueza, composição e distribuição espacial da comunidade de aves em um fragmento florestal urbano em Maringá, Norte do Estado do Paraná, Brasil

Richness, composition and spatial distribution of birds were analyzed on an urban forest fragment of 47.3 ha at Maringá, Southern Brazil (23°25'S and 51°25W). Four habitats were categorized on this fragment: forest, forest edge, open areas and lagoon. The forest and forest edge were divided into three levels: understory (bellow 3 m), mid-levels (3-6 m) and canopy (above 6 m). A standard transect was ran throughout all pre-established habitats four times each month of January to December 2003, totaling 48 sampling days. A total of 86 bird species were registered on the forest fragment, being the insectivores and omnivores, respectively, the guilds with larger number of species. Most of the species was registered on no more than 25% of samplings. The forest was the habitat with largest species richness and largest percentage of species with occurrence frequency above of 75%. The mid-levels presented the largest species richness and the canopy the largest percentage of species with occurrence frequency above of 75%. It is pointed out the importance of conservation of the several urban forest fragments and the tree covering on Maringá, in order to minimize the isolation effects and to try to supply the needs of part of the bird community that possibly would not to persist on studied fragment whether there were not other near forest areas.

Small mammal ecology in an urban Atlantic forest fragment in southeastern Brazil

We conducted a capture-mark-release study of small mammals in an urban forest fragment at the Parque das Mangabeiras, in the city of Belo Horizonte, southeastern Brazil. Four marsupials — Didelphis albiventris Lund, Gracilinanus agilis (Burmeister), Marmosops incanus (Lund), Philander frenatus (Olfers) — and four rodents — Sciurus aestuans Linnaeus, Akodon montensis Thomas, Rhipidomys mastacalis (Lund) and Mus musculus Linnaeus — were found between March 2003 and February 2004. The most abundant species were M. incanus and S. aestuans, representing respectively 50% and 20% of the individuals recorded. Terrestrial habits were detected for A. montensis and D. albiventris, scansorial habits for G. agilis, M. incanus, P. frenatus, and S. aestuans, while R. mastacalis was exclusively arboreal. There was positive correlation between rainfall and population abundance for D. albiventris, and positive correlation between recruitment rates and rainfall for M. incanus. Rapid turnover rates suggested short residence time for most species. Three reproductive patterns were identified: prolonged reproduction during both seasons in R. mastacalis, reproduction during the dry season in G. agilis, and reproduction during the wet season in the remaining species. Only individuals of D. albiventris, M. incanus, R. mastacalis, and S. aestuans were detected across the paved road that runs through the fragment, suggesting that the road may be a barrier to the other species.

Habitat structure is more important than vegetation composition for local-level management of native terrestrial reptile and small mammal species living in urban remnants: A case study from Brisbane, Australia.

As urban areas continue to expand and replace natural and agricultural landscapes, the ability to manage and conserve native wildlife within urban environments is becoming increasingly important. To do so we first need to understand species' responses to local‐level habitat attributes in order to inform the decision‐making process and on‐ground conservation actions. Patterns in the occurrence of native terrestrial reptile and small mammal species in 59 sites located in remnant urban habitat fragments of Brisbane City were assessed against local‐level environmental characteristics of each site. Cluster analysis, multidimensional scaling ordination, and principal axis correlation were used to investigate relationships between species' occurrences and environmental characteristics. Native reptiles were most strongly associated with the presence of termite mounds, a high amount of fallen woody material, and a moderate amount of weed cover. Native small mammals were most strongly associated with the presence of grass trees (Xanthorrhoea spp.), and both reptiles and small mammals were negatively influenced by increased soil compaction. Significant floristic characteristics were considered to be important as structural, rather than compositional, habitat elements. Therefore, habitat structure, rather than vegetation composition, appears to be most important for determining native, terrestrial reptile and small mammal species assemblages in urban forest fragments. We discuss the management implications in relation to human disturbances and local‐level management of urban remnants.

Pollen and nectar harvesting by the stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides (Apidae: Meliponini) in an urban forest fragment in Southeastern Brazil

Pollen and nectar sources used by Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides were recorded at Parque Estadual da Serra do Rola‐Moça during one year. Eighty‐nine workers of M. quadrifasciata visited flowers of 16 out of 83 flowering plant species recorded at the site. The flowers visited belonged mainly to a few families, mostly Solanaceae and Myrtaceae. Abundance of bees was not correlated to food availability. From most plant species the workers of M. quadrifasciata gathered either pollen or nectar. Fifty‐five percent of visited plant families overlapped among Parque Estadual da Serra do Rola‐Moça and four other sites in Bahia, São Paulo and Paraná States. Resumo Inventariou‐se as espécies de plantas que Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides utiliza para coleta de pólen e néctar. Oitenta e nove operárias de M. quadrifasciata visitaram 16 (19.3%) das 83 espécies de plantas floridas. Setenta por cento das plantas visitadas foram principalmente espécies de Solanaceae e Myrtaceae. A abundância de abelhas nas flores não se correlacionou com a disponibilidade de recursos. Melipona quadrifasciata coletou somente pólen ou néctar da maioria das plantas que visitou. Houve uma similaridade média de 55% entre o conjunto de espécies de plantas visitadas por M. quadrifasciata no Parque Estadual da Serra do Rola‐Moça e aqueles visitados em locais nos Estados da Bahia, São Paulo e Paraná.

Preliminary observations on habitat, support use and diet in two non-native primates in an urban Atlantic forest fragment: The capuchin monkey (Cebus sp.) and the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) in the Tijuca forest, Rio de Janeiro

Space is an important dimension of the ecological niche. Differentiation in the use of vertical strata of the forest is related to species body size, and explains in part species coexistence at a local scale. Large neotropical primates dwell in the canopy, moving quadrupedally on large branches, whereas smaller species leap between narrow branches in the understory. We tested this general pattern by observing focal individuals of the capuchin monkey (Cebus sp.) and the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), both non-native species, living in a forest fragment within the Rio de Janeiro city. Results were in accordance with the pattern for neotropical primates. Vertical use of the forest seems to be related with ecological interactions, especially for C. jacchus restricted to the lower strata due to aerial predation. Preliminary observations on diet corroborate the omnivory of Cebus and the gum feeding characteristic of C. jacchus. For Cebus sp. the exotic jack-fruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) was the most important food item. Predation of both primates on vertebrates, especially by C. jacchus on passerines, could cause an uncommon impact on prey populations. In spite of anthropogenic impact, these non-native primates maintain the general pattern of habitat, support use and diet of the same or similar species in native neotropical communities.

Species richness and seasonality of spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) in an urban Atlantic Forest fragment in Northeastern Brazil

Species richness and forest seasonality of spiders in an urban fragment of Northeastern Brazil were investigated. Mata do Buraquinho is a remnant of Atlantic Rain Forest where no spider inventories have ever been made. Samplings during dry and wet seasons were carried out in order to establish if seasonality influences species richness and complementarily of the spider fauna. Pitfall traps, nocturnal collections, and beating tray samples were used to access a multi-guild spider fauna. Spider species were estimated using first order Jackknife method. Four hundred samples were obtained, resulting in 1681 adult spiders. A total of 166 species were recorded and 211 were estimated. No significant differences for species richness were observed between both periods, and the captured species were the same according to the complementarily coefficients. The fragmentation hypothesis as factor of biota impoverishment was not tested, but future investigations on this topic are suggested in the complex of forest remnants in Joao Pessoa.

Floral preferences of a neotropical stingless bee, Melipona quadrifasciata Lepeletier (Apidae: Meliponina) in an urban forest fragment

Species of plants used by Melipona quadrifasciata Lepeletier for pollen and nectar gathering in an urban forest fragment were recorded in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Melipona quadrifasciata visited 22 out of 103 flowering plant species. The plant species belonged mainly to Myrtaceae, Asteraceae, and Convolvulaceae (64% of the visits). Melipona quadrifasciata tended to collect pollen or nectar each time, except for Myrtaceae species, from which both pollen and nectar were collected. Bee abundance at flowers did not significantly correlate to food availability (expressed by flowering plant richness). We found a relatively high similarity (50%) between plant species used by M. quadrifasciata, which was also found in studies carried out in São Paulo State. However, low similarity (17%) was found between the results of this study and those of another done in Bahia State, Brazil.