Annual Variation in Bee Community Structure in the Context of Disturbance (Niagara Region, South-Western Ontario)

This study examined annual variation in phenology, abundance and diversity of a bee community during 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2008 in recovered landscapes at the southern end of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Overall, 8139 individuals were collected from 26 genera and sub-genera and at least 57 species. These individuals belonged to the 5 families found in eastern North America (Andrenidae, Apidae, Colletidae, Halictidae and Megachilidae). The bee community was characterized by three distinct periods of flight activity over the four years studied (early spring, late spring/early summer, and late summer). The number of bees collected in spring was significantly higher than those collected in summer. In 2003 and 2006 abundance was higher, seasons started earlier and lasted longer than in 2004 and 2008, as a result of annual rainfall fluctuations. Differences in abundance for low and high disturbance sites decreased with years. Annual trends of generic richness resembled those detected for species. Likewise, similarity in genus and species composition decreased with time. Abundant and common taxa (13 genera and 18 species) were more persistent than rarer taxa being largely responsible for the annual fluctuations of the overall community. Numerous species were sporadic or newly introduced. The invasive species Anthidium oblongatum was first recorded in Niagara in 2006 and 2008. Previously detected seasonal variation patterns were confirmed. Furthermore, this study contributed to improve our knowledge of temporal dynamics of bee communities. Understanding temporal variation in bee communities is relevant to assessing impacts caused on their habitats by diverse disturbances.

The Implications of Forager Behaviour for Social Organisation in a Socially Polymorphic Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica)

In social Hymenoptera, the division of labour is a major step in the evolution of sociality. Bees, which express many different kinds of sociality, can be classified according to how individuals share or do not share foraging and reproductive activities (Michener, 1974). The large carpenter bee, Xylocopa virginica, lives in populations with both solitary and social nests. In social nests, reproduction is controlled by the dominant female, who does all of her own foraging and egg-laying, while the subordinates guard the nest only. This study examined foraging behaviour as a way to classify the social hierarchy. Individual females were marked, measured and intensely observed for the foraging season. It was found that a large number of subordinates forage and likely obtain more reproductive fitness than previously thought. The dominance hierarchy is very likely a social queue, in which bees take turns foraging and egg-laying.

Bee Communities in Restored Landfill Sites of Niagara Region

This study examined the impact of habitat restoration on bee communities (Hymenoptera: Apidae) of the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada. Bee abundance and diversity was studied in three restored landfill sites: the Glenridge Quarry Naturalization Site (GQNS) in St. Catharines, Elm Street Naturalization Site in Port Colborne, and Station Road Naturalization Site in Wainfleet during 2011 and 2012. GQNS represented older sites restored from 2001-2003. Elm and Station sites represented newly restored landfills as of 2011. These sites were compared to control sites at Brock University where bee communities are well established and again to other landfills where no stable habitat was available before restoration. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of restoration level on bee abundance and diversity in restored landfill sites of the Niagara Region. Based on the increased disturbance hypothesis (InDH) and the intermediate disturbance hypothesis (IDH), I hypothesized that bee abundance and diversity will follow two patterns. First pattern according to InDH suggest that as the disturbance decrease the bee abundance and diversity will increased. Second pattern according to the IDH bee abundance and diversity will be the highest at the intermediate level of disturbance. A total of 7 173 bees were collected using pan traps and flower collections, from May to October 2011 and 2012. Bees were classified to five families, 21 genera and sub-genera, containing at least 78 species. In 2011 bee abundance was not significantly different among restoration levels while in 2012 bee abundance was significant difference among restoration level. According to family there were no significant difference in Halictidae and Apidae abundance among restoration level while Colletidae and Megachilidae abundance were varied among restoration levels. The bee species richness was highest in the newly restored sites followed by restored control sites, and then the control site. The current study demonstrates that habitat restoration results in rapid increases in bee abundance and diversity for newly restored sites, and, further, that it takes only 2-3 years for bee assemblages in newly restored sites to arrive at the same levels of abundance and diversity as in nearby control sites where bee communities are well established.

Restoration and succession of a bee community in southern St. Catharines, Ontario, within a ten-year study period

A wild bee community in southern St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, was studied from 2003 to 2012 to analyze the effects of primary succession on abundance and diversity. At a former landfill site near Brock University, which previously contained no bees, the number of bees and bee species was expected to increase rapidly following measures to restore the site to grassy meadow habitat. The Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH) states that over time, succession occurs. Abundance and diversity increase initially and peak when pioneers coexist with specialized species, then decline because of competitive exclusion. Alternatively, abundance and diversity may continue to increase and stabilize without declining. Bees were sampled repeatedly among years from newer restoration sites (revegetated in 2003), older restoration sites on the periphery of the former landfill (revegetated in 2000), and nearby low disturbance grassy field (i.e. control) sites. In the newer sites, bee abundance and diversity increased then decreased while in older restoration and control sites mainly decreased. This pattern of succession matches the general predictions of the IDH, although declines were at least partially related to drought. By 2006, total bee abundance levels converged among all sites, indicating rapid colonization and succession, and by 2012 diversity levels were similar among sites as well, suggesting that the bee community was fully restored or nearly so within the ten-year study period.

Alloparental care in a solitary bee

Research into the evolutionary origins of sociality in insect colonies is changing emphasis from understanding how eusociality is maintained to how insects transition from solitary to social lifestyles. The pygmy carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.) offer an excellent model for investigating such factors as they have been historically thought of as solitary but have recently been shown to be socially polymorphic, which may indicate that they are currently in a transitive phase. By utilizing behavioural observation and experimental removal protocols, I show that extended parental care, as well as sibling care in Ceratina calcarata plays an important role in offspring development. I found, upon removal of the mother, that specifically produced ‘dwarf’ female offspring take over parental care roles in the nest. The existence of alloparental care and generational overlap suggests that although they are classified as solitary bees, C. calcarata possess the prerequisite behavioural repertoire for sociality.

MCMI-II borderline personality disorder in anorexia and bulimia nervosa. 'Trastorno l??mite de personalidad seg??n el MCMI-II en la anorexia y bulimia nerviosas'

Resumen tomado de la publicaci??n

Sentit pedagògic del mite de la bèstia enamorada. 'Sentido pedagógico del mito de la bestia enamorada'.

El tema de la bestia enamorada es frecuente en los cuentos de todas las culturas. No siempre se trata de un animal sino que el enamorado suele adoptar formas mostruosas y feroces. Partiendo del psicoanálisis, se ha demostrado la acción liberadora que ejercen los cuentos populares en la formación de la personalidad infantil y en la maduración de la afectividad, el enriquecimiento del lenguaje y la imaginación, la educación de la atención pero sobre todo la capacidad que poseen para favorecer el conocimiento y superar los propios problemas emocionales a través de recrearlos en los cuentos. El coraje es sin duda uno de los valores que con más insistencia ofrecen los cuentos populares: la aventura iniciática es siempre un reto, un riesgo a los ojos del protagonista para que sea capaz de correr las peripecias llenas de intriga que la historia le plantea. Pero sobre todo lo que es más destacable en los cuentos es que sus mensajes llegan a través de simples y cotidianas situaciones sociales, como el mito de la bestia enamorada sirve para cambiar la actitud de la mujer frente al sexo, para pasar del sentimiento de rechazo y miedo a la aceptación.

Sentit pedagògic del mite de la bèstia enamorada. 'Sentido pedagógico del mito de la bestia enamorada'.

Resumen tomado de la publicación

El Montseny i les Guilleries : paisatge, mite i literatura. 'El Montseny y las Guilleries : paisaje, mito y literatura'

Resumen del v??deo en catal??n

Mitologia : l'antropologia a través del mite. 'Mitología : la antropología a través del mito'.

Trabajo que analiza los mitos y las leyendas que han creado los distintos pueblos y culturas del mundo en su intento de dar respuesta a las preguntas que a lo largo de los siglos se ha planteado la humanidad. Asi el capítulo segundo estudia los dioses y héroes de la mitología china, africana, árabe, inca, vikinga y helénica. Para finalizar con una cronología, documentos y bibliografía, así como con una serie de actividades y juegos para una mejor comprensión del tema..

Are you a bee?

Cuando el lector mira la vida desde la perspectiva de una abeja le permite ampliar su comprensión por estos insectos. El texto informativo que sigue a partir de la pregunta de si es una abeja lleva a los niños a imaginarse ser una larva, qué comer, cómo vivir en una celda con un límite máximo de cera, y emprender actividades a través de su metamorfosis en insecto. Al final hay un par de páginas de datos adicionales acerca de sus encarnaciones de fantasía para llegar a la conclusión de que un niño no tiene que estar tan ocupado como una abeja, pero puede disfrutar de la miel, gracias a ellas. Para niños de hasta ocho años.

Bunny my honey.

Bunny quiere a su mama. Ella le llama, 'Bunny mi miel'. Sus amigos, Little Miss Duckling y Miss Mouse, son también pequeños mieles. Todo es dulce y encantador hasta que un día Bunny se pierde en el bosque.

El CAP : tr??mite y exigencia

El matricularse en el CAP es simplemente un tr??mite burocr??tico y obligatorio. Exigible para dar clases y opositar. Est?? condenado a vivir sin ser curso de aptitud pedag??gica. Si este curso es necesario y requiere una organizaci??n hay que organizarlo bien, con profesores competentes que supervisen de modo constante las practicas, programaciones y resultados de su actividad. La memoria es un tr??mite es un tramite molesto e innecesario que se deber??a suprimir. La ruina del CAP no viene de ensayar f??rmulas nuevas, sino de querer mantener a toda costa una estructura caduca y cara, adem??s de inoperante e in??til.

Estilos de enseñanza : conceptualización e investigación (en función de los estilos de aprendizaje de Alonso, Gallego y Honey).

Resumen basado en el de la publicación

Los estilos de aprendizaje de Honey-Alonso y el rendimiento académico en las áreas de formación general y formación profesional básica de los estudiantes del Instituto Superior Pedagógico Privado 'Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe' de la provincia de Huancayo, Perú.

Resumen basado en el de la publicación