Botanical characterization of Apis mellifera honeys in areas under different degrees of disturbance in the southern Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Abstract

Apiculture is an important economic activity in Mexico, and deforestation, extensive agriculture, and other types of land use threaten sustainable honey production. This study aimed to determine the floral resources used by Apis mellifera for honey production, in vegetation types with different disturbance degrees in Southern Yucatan Peninsula, Quintana Roo state. A total of 24 honey samples, from eight apiaries, were collected during the months of the highest honey production in the region (February to May 2022). Standard acetolysis technique was applied for melissopalynological analysis. A total of 68 pollen types were identified. Our results suggest that the disturbance degree of the vegetation does not affect the pollen diversity and honey composition, mainly because the available floral resources remain similar. Viguiera dentata (Asteraceae) was the most abundant (>45%) herbaceous species in honey samples of February and March. Piscidia piscipula (Fabaceae) and Haematoxylum campechianum (Fabaceae) in samples of March (16%-45%), and P. piscipula in April (>45%). Spondias mombin (Anacardiaceae), Bursera simaruba (Burseraceae), and Metopium brownie (Anacardiaceae) were the most abundant (16%-45%) arboreal species found in samples of May. Although our results can be used to develop conservation strategies looking for sustainable honey production, further studies should focus on vegetation with a better conservation state, during longer time periods, and during periods with fewer resources available for honeybees.

Keywords:

• Apis mellifera
• honey
• melissopalynology
• beekeeping
• conservation

Acknowledgements

We thank Margarito Tuz Novelo for the help in the field and translation from Maya to Spanish with the beekeepers. Beekeepers from Bacalar, Quintana Roo, provided us with honey samples and allowed us access to their apiaries.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

ACR received support from a CONACYT scholarship for postgraduate studies and ECOSUR Postgraduate General Coordination scholarships granted through the Facilitation of Remote Work Programs (sanitary confinement, COVID-2019) and Complementary Support for Master’s Thesis.