de Souza_2026_Data.Brief_66_112657

This dataset provides a comprehensive analysis of the impacts of human-induced stress on bee species native to the Caatinga biome. Bees play a vital role as pollinators, significantly contributing to ecosystem health, but they face growing threats from human activities. This study evaluates the health status of Melipona mandacaia, a stingless bee, using biomarkers as indicators of anthropogenic stress, comparing bees from a pristine Caatinga biome with no recorded human pressure, and an urban area with high human pressure. The biomarkers analysed included cholinesterases (ChE) for neurotoxicity, catalase (CAT) for antioxidant responses, glutathione S-transferases (GST) for detoxification pathways, and lipid peroxidation (LPO) as an indicator of oxidative stress. Additionally, the Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR v.1) index is used to provide a holistic assessment of bee health by integrating multiple biomarkers into a single measure.