Format: ORAL

Rengifo Alfonso Nicols1*, Fernndez Otrola Mauricio2,3. Hanson, Paul2. Karremans, Adam3

1 Graduate Biology Program, University of Costa Rica 2 School of Biology, University of Costa Rica 3 Center for Research in Biodiversity and Tropical Ecology, University of Costa Rica 4 Lankester Botanical Garden Research Center, University of Costa Rica *Corresponding author: nicolas.rengifo@ucr.ac.cr

Orchids are one of the most diverse groups of plants, with sophisticated reproductive mechanisms that have allowed the diversification of niches and pollinators, such as Euglossini bees. The study of the reproductive phenology of orchids by means of bee body pollinaria provides a clear understanding of the interaction between plants and pollinators. Also, many bee species have a different phenology in certain ecosystems, which puts pressure on orchids that depend on these pollinators for reproduction. The objective of this work was to characterize the reproductive phenology of orchids and the Euglossini pollinator bee community. The work was carried out at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. During one-year, monthly samplings of three days were carried out, using different chemical attractants to attract Euglossini males, and only those observed with pollinaria or accessory structures on their bodies were captured. The orchid pollinators were identified at the Lankester Botanical Garden and the bees at the School of Biology, University of Costa Rica. Gongora and Euglossa were the most abundant orchid and bee genera. During the dry season, the abundance of bees was higher than during the rainy season. and the species in flowering vary significantly from season to season, as do the species of bees. This work presents the first bipartite network between orchids and Euglossini bees, considering the two climatic seasons of the year. We politely ask that the organizers consider allocating this proposal to a new symposium with the title: Seed dispersal and pollination ecology of Neotropical Orchidaceae