Data standardization of plant-pollinator interactions.

BACKGROUND: Animal pollination is an important ecosystem function and service, ensuring both the integrity of natural systems and human well-being. Although many knowledge shortfalls remain, some high-quality data sets on biological interactions are now available. The development and adoption of standards for biodiversity data and metadata has promoted great advances in biological data sharing and aggregation, supporting large-scale studies and science-based public policies. However, these standards are currently not suitable to fully support interaction data sharing. RESULTS: Here we present a vocabulary of terms and a data model for sharing plant-pollinator interactions data based on the Darwin Core standard. The vocabulary introduces 48 new terms targeting several aspects of plant-pollinator interactions and can be used to capture information from different approaches and scales. Additionally, we provide solutions for data serialization using RDF, XML, and DwC-Archives and recommendations of existing controlled vocabularies for some of the terms. Our contribution supports open access to standardized data on plant-pollinator interactions. CONCLUSIONS: The adoption of the vocabulary would facilitate data sharing to support studies ranging from the spatial and temporal distribution of interactions to the taxonomic, phenological, functional, and phylogenetic aspects of plant-pollinator interactions. We expect to fill data and knowledge gaps, thus further enabling scientific research on the ecology and evolution of plant-pollinator communities, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, and the development of public policies. The proposed data model is flexible and can be adapted for sharing other types of interactions data by developing discipline-specific vocabularies of terms.

Espectro polínico de mel de tiúba (Melipona fasciculata Smith, 1854, Hymenoptera, Apidae)

The pollen spectrum of honey of the Melipona fasciculata was analyzed aiming to elucidate the nectariferous resources used by this species. The identification of the visited plants was based upon the analysis of the pollen spectrum of 12 honey samples collected in one meliponarium located in Palmeirândia county, lowland area of Maranhão State, Brazil (02º40'47,6S, 44º52'39,8"W). The quantitative and qualitative analysis of honey samples was conducted in order to determine the pollen type percentages and frequency classes. Forty-five pollen types were found, being Pontederia parviflora Alexander (Pontederiaceae) the most frequent species during period of sampling (38.6%) and considered dominant pollen in October (86%), June (85%), July (76%), August (49%) and September (51%) and accessory pollen in December, January and March. Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth (Mimosaceae) was the second most frequent species (22.8%) and was a dominant pollen in November (46%), April (74%) and May (72%). Myrcia eximia DC. (Myrtaceae) was considered important isolated pollen. The most representative families found in the pollen spectrum of the honey samples were Pontederiaceae and Mimosaceae. 50% of honey samples was bifloral, but there were also monofloral (41.7%) and heterofloral (8.3%) honeys.

O espectro polínico do mel de Melipona fasciculata Smith foi analisado com o objetivo de identificar os recursos nectaríferos utilizados por essa espécie. A identificação das plantas visitadas foi realizada com base na análise dos tipos polínicos encontrados em 12 amostras de mel coletadas, mensalmente, em uma colônia localizada no município de Palmeirândia, na área da Baixada Ocidental Maranhense (02º40'47,6S, 44º52'39,8"W), Brasil. As análises quantitativas e qualitativas foram realizadas com o objetivo de determinar as porcentagens e classes de frequência dos tipos polínicos presentes nas amostras de mel. Foram encontrados 45 tipos polínicos, sendo Pontederia parviflora Alexander (Pontederiaceae), espécie mais frequente em todo o período de amostragem (38,6%), pólen dominante em Outubro (86%), Junho (85%), Julho (76%), Agosto (49%) e Setembro (51%) e pólen acessório em Dezembro, Janeiro e Março. Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth (Mimosaceae) foi a segunda espécie mais frequente (22,8%) sendo pólen dominante em Novembro (46%), Abril (74%) e Maio (72%). Myrcia eximia DC (Myrtaceae) foi considerada pólen isolado importante. As famílias mais representativas no espectro polínico das amostras de mel foram Pontederiaceae e Mimosaceae. 50% dos méis foram biflorais, havendo também méis monoflorais (41,7%) e heteroflorais (8,3%).

Nesting behavior of Centris (Hemisiella) vittata Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in an area of the Cerrado in the northeast of the State of Maranhão, Brazil.

The nesting behavior of Centris (Hemisiella) vittata Lepeletier was studied in the Urbano Santos Cerrado in the northeast of Maranhão State, Brazil. To date, this species has only been studied in trap-nests. The nesting behavior of this species in a natural condition is recorded for the first time. Nesting occurred in preexisting holes in dead trunks of aroeira, Astronium myracrodruon (Anacardiaceae), at the end of the rainy season. The cells were constructed with a mixture of sand and oil. After finishing the nests, females used only oil to line the entrance wall. Two females collected sand at the same time to build their nests, and another one was seen collecting resources at Byrsonima sp. (Malpighiaceae). The pollen load of one bee was analyzed and was found to contain mainly Hymenaea courbaril (Leg-Caesalpiniaceae). Development from egg to adult took about 60 days. Protandry was observed, being males smaller than females. The nests were parasitized by Coleoptera and Diptera. However, the females only showed aggressive behavior against females of the same species or genus.

Ocorrência de Centris (Hemisiella) vittata Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Centridini) no Cerrado s.l. do nordeste do Maranhão, Brasil

Females of Centris (Hemisiella) vittata Lepeletier were observed visiting flowers of Byrsonima sp. (Malpighiaceae) and nesting in Astronium sp. (Anacardiaceae) in a mesophytic forest area at Urbano Santos, Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil.

Fêmeas de Centris vittata Lepeletier foram observadas visitando flores de Byrsonima sp. e nidificando em troncos de Astronium sp. (Anacardiaceae) em uma área de Mata Mesofítica, em Urbano Santos (3º 12' 28''S; 43º24'12''), Maranhão, Brasil.

[Behçet's disease in childhood]. / Doença de Behçet na infância.

OBJECTIVE: To make Pediatricians aware of the fact that they must investigate Behçet's disease while performing differential diagnosis of recurrent aphthous stomatitis, even though it is a vasculitis of rare occurrence in early life. METHODS: Between June 1996 and December 2000, we retrospectively evaluated seven patients of our Pediatric Rheumatology Unit. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data as well as data regarding treatment and follow-up were presented. RESULTS: Five out of seven patients were female (71.4%), four were non-Caucasian (57.1%), the mean age at onset was 8 years and 11 months (variation of 6 months to 13 years and 8 months), the mean period until diagnosis was 2 years and 3 months (variation of 2 months to 8 years) and the mean follow-up period was 4 years and 2 months (three patients without follow-up). The major criteria of diagnosis were: oral ulcers in seven patients (100%), genital ulcers in three patients (42.8%), ophthalmic alterations in four patients (57.1%) cutaneous vasculitis in one patient (14.2%) and positive pathology test in one patient (14.2%). The minor criteria were: arthralgia/arthritis in five patients (71.4%), family history in two patients (28.5%), and sagittal sinus thrombosis in one patient (14.2%). The initial symptoms included recurrent aphthous stomatitis (more than three painful aphthous ulcers episodes in the period of 1 year), genital ulcers, arthralgia, fever and weight loss. The laboratory findings were: mild anemia in 1/6 patients, ESR>25 in 3/6 patients, increased serum gammaglobulin level in 2/4 patients, B5 histocompatibility antigen in 2/7 patients. The treatment included corticosteroids for 5/7 patients (4 oral, 1 intravenous and one local use), thalidomide for 4/7 patients, colchicine for 2/7 patients and dapsone for 1/7 patient. The outcome was favorable in 4/6, and 3/6 patients presented relapse. CONCLUSION: Our results confirm the importance of considering the diagnosis of Behçet's disease in patients with recurrent oral and genital ulcers.

Levantamento da fauna de Abelhas silvestres (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) na região da "Baixada Maranhense": Vitória do Mearim, MA, Brasil

The bee fauna of a restrict area of Lowland Region of Maranhão was studied. Monthly samples were performed with entomological net and baits trap with attractive compounds, totalling 288 hours of sampling. A total of 839 individuals belonging to 38 species of the bee families Apidae, Megachilidae, Halictidae, Andrenidae and Colletidae were collected on flowers and 72 individuals (11 species) of Euglossinae in baits trap. Scaptotrigona flavisetis Moure, Trigona pallens Cockerell and Apis mellifera Linnaeus were most frequent species in the area. Bee frequencies showed various patterns of seasonality, i.e. the period in which most bees of S. flavisetis were observed were January and October, T. pallens in January and February and A. mellifera in April. Euglossa (E.) cordata and E. (E.) gr. modestior were the most frequent species collected in baits traps and Eucaliptol was the most attractive compound.

Estudou-se durante um ano a fauna de abelhas de uma região da Baixada maranhense em Vitória do Mearim MA. Foram feitas coletas mensais com auxílio de redes entomológicas e armadilhas de cheiro, no período de um ano, totalizando 288 horas de amostragem. Um total de 839 indivíduos de 38 espécies de abelhas pertencentes às famílias Apidae, Megachilidae, Halictidae, Andrenidae e Colletidae foram coletadas nas flores e 72 indivíduos (11 espécies) de Euglossinae em armadilhas com iscas-odoríferas. Scaptotrigona flavisetis oure, Trigona pallens Cockerell e Apis mellifera Linnaeus foram as espécies mais abundantes na área. A sazonalidade foi variável de acordo com as diferentes espécies de abelhas. S. flavisetis foi observada em maior número em janeiro e outubro, T. pallens em janeiro e fevereiro e A. mellifera em abril. Das abelhas coletadas em armadilhas, Euglossa (E.) cordata e . (E.) gr. modestior foram as mais abundantes e Eucaliptol foi a isca odorífera que recebeu maior número de visitas.

Levantamento da fauna de Abelhas silvestres (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) na região da "Baixada Maranhense": Vitória do Mearim, MA, Brasil

The bee fauna of a restrict area of Lowland Region of Maranhão was studied. Monthly samples were performed with entomological net and baits trap with attractive compounds, totalling 288 hours of sampling. A total of 839 individuals belonging to 38 species of the bee families Apidae, Megachilidae, Halictidae, Andrenidae and Colletidae were collected on flowers and 72 individuals (11 species) of Euglossinae in baits trap. Scaptotrigona flavisetis Moure, Trigona pallens Cockerell and Apis mellifera Linnaeus were most frequent species in the area. Bee frequencies showed various patterns of seasonality, i.e. the period in which most bees of S. flavisetis were observed were January and October, T. pallens in January and February and A. mellifera in April. Euglossa (E.) cordata and E. (E.) gr. modestior were the most frequent species collected in baits traps and Eucaliptol was the most attractive compound.

Estudou-se durante um ano a fauna de abelhas de uma região da Baixada maranhense em Vitória do Mearim MA. Foram feitas coletas mensais com auxílio de redes entomológicas e armadilhas de cheiro, no período de um ano, totalizando 288 horas de amostragem. Um total de 839 indivíduos de 38 espécies de abelhas pertencentes às famílias Apidae, Megachilidae, Halictidae, Andrenidae e Colletidae foram coletadas nas flores e 72 indivíduos (11 espécies) de Euglossinae em armadilhas com iscas-odoríferas. Scaptotrigona flavisetis oure, Trigona pallens Cockerell e Apis mellifera Linnaeus foram as espécies mais abundantes na área. A sazonalidade foi variável de acordo com as diferentes espécies de abelhas. S. flavisetis foi observada em maior número em janeiro e outubro, T. pallens em janeiro e fevereiro e A. mellifera em abril. Das abelhas coletadas em armadilhas, Euglossa (E.) cordata e . (E.) gr. modestior foram as mais abundantes e Eucaliptol foi a isca odorífera que recebeu maior número de visitas.