The aim of the study is to produce a molecular phylogeny of Australian stingless social bees of the genera Trigona and Austroplebeia. The molecular phylogeny will be used to test the validity of the existing taxonomy. In particular, we will determine whether the observed nest morphology polymorphism in the species complex of Trigona carbonaria, T. hockingsi and T. mellipes is a valid character for species recognition, or merely a behavioural polymorphism within a single species. The work proposed is significant because (i) It will provide basic biological knowledge of a group of species which are probably vital pollinators in many Australian ecosystems. (ii) It may explain why, based on surveys of allozyme and RAPD variation, the Australian species are so lacking in genetic variability (iii) It will provide an understanding of when Australia was colonised by stingless bees. iv) The extreme polymorphism observed in the nest building characteristics of the T. carbonaria, T. hockingsi and T. mellipes complex will be compared to the molecular phylogeny with a view to understanding the evolution of nest building behaviour in this genus.

Pierre Franck is currently working on this project. His aim is to characterize the genetic variability of the populations of the complex of species T. carbonaria/T. hockingsi using mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA markers. He is currently building a sample collection of T. carbonaria and T. hockingsi populations from the Australian east coast, from Cape York to Sydney. Twenty unrelated colonies of both species will be sampled when possible from the following seven regions: Iron Range, Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton, Brisbane, Port Macquarie and Gosford. A sample of twenty additional colonies from a population of T. mellipes will be added for comparison. If you can help us to collect these bees, please contact Pierre Franck (pfranck@bio.usyd.edu.au).

We have strong collaborative links with Dr. A. Dollin, Australian Native Bee Research Centre. http://www.aussiebee.com.au We are also grateful to Russell Zabel for providing us with samples of Trigona from Gatton, Qld. Check out his home page: http://www.uq.net.au/~zzrzabel/ Photo: Brood nest of Trigona carbonaria