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ISSN: 2641-6794

Open Access Journal of Environmental & Soil Science

Research Article(ISSN: 2641-6794)

Relation Between Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.), Population of Plant Species, Collected pollen and Its Protein Content Volume 2 - Issue 4

Zheko Radev*

  • Cosmocert SA - Certification Cervices, Sofia, Bulgaria

Received: April 19, 2019;   Published: April 26, 2019

Corresponding author: Zheko Radev, Cosmocert SA - Certification Cervices, Sofia, Bulgaria

DOI: 10.32474/OAJESS.2019.02.000144

 

Abstract PDF

Abstract

In this work, the relation between honey bees, population of plant species, collected pollen and its protein content was studied. There have been established two negative and two positive correlations of the analyzed plant species which have been most visited and naturally populated. It can be said that the bees collect the same amount pollen from these plant species regardless of its high or low protein content. The analysis not found difference and there is no relation between amount of collected pollen and its protein content. The quantity collected pollen by the bees depends on the population of the certain plants that bees visit. We have to consider the differences in the discoveries of bees-scouts, when searching for new crops, flower type, the number of flowers, bees’ direct access pass, the distance to the hives, ecological factors and etc. When flowering Centaurea cyanus, bees collect most of it pollen and less from Ranunculus sp. The results of the study show that the wide variety of pollen provided the taxons with population “2” and less with population “+”. It is necessary to keep and protect the native flora, which provide to the bee’s food.

Keywords: Pollen; Protein content; Honey bee; Apis mellifera L.

Introduction

Pollen is extremely important for bees and has a significant role in their diet. Pollen is the source of protein necessary for vital processes of the honey bees (Apis mellifera) [1]. There is a relationship between the nutritional value of pollen and the development, reproduction, and productivity of the bee colonies [2]. Without the presence of flowering plants and supply of pollen in the local environment, the bee colonies reduce the rearing brood [3-4]. The protein content in the pollen of different plants has different quantity [5-7]. Pollen dispersed by insects is commonly heavier, somewhat moist and sticky and coloured in various shades of yellow, brown, orange or red [8]. The pollen loads of honey bees come in various colours, which may vary with weather conditions [9]. Honey bees prefer to collect pollen from 5 to 6 plants species during every single month. It is not proven difference and there is no relation between amount of pollens collection and their protein content. When flowering introduced agricultural plants, bees collect most of them pollen, depends on the climate condition. The results of the study show that the wide variety of pollen provided the taxons of naturally occurring flora, over 75%-80% [10]. The aim of this research is to identify whether there is a relation between honey bees (Apis mellifera L.), population of plant species, collected pollen and its protein content.

Materials and Methods

Pollen traps were placed in five bee hives and the pollen pellets were harvested every 2 days from April till September 2012-2014 in area of Belozem (Bulgaria) (42,2°.25,033333°). The pollen loads from each hive, were analyzed carefully. One thousand three hundred samples of bee-collected pollen pellets are separated over white sheets, according to colour, shape and texture. The plant species of each pollen pellet is identified through microscopic examination of grains and the amount of collected pollen was weighted by an analytical scale. Melissopalynological analysis was carried out using similar methodology [11]. Each identified pollen sample was placed on a slide with a drop of isoglucose and added fuchsin. The slides were then dried in not above 400C and fixed with EntelanTM (Entelan Microscopy, Karlsruhe, Germany). To identify the pollen is used the database of the laboratory of Apiculture- Sericulture of the Agricultural school of Aristotle University and self-made database of the plants in the study area.

The data on the protein content of pollen from different plant species were available from a previous study [7]. The analysis of the plant population has been conducted [12] and the plants have been grouped according to the scale [13] where:

„5”- plant population is > 75%.

„4”- plant population is between 50-75%.

„3”- plant population is between 25-50%.

„2”- plant population is between 5-25%.

„1”- plant population is between 1-5%.

„+”- plant population is < 1%.

„r”- plant population is represented by 1-2 representatives.

Results and Discussion

The data on the amount of collected pollen and its protein content over the three years of some plant species populating is represented in Table 1. Statistical analysis (Excel) has been conducted so as to build a connection between the collected amount of pollen and its protein content among the various plant species with the same breeding value. There has been a negative but not significant correlation (r=-0.05, p≤ 0.05) between the species Eryngium campestre, Chenopodium sp. and Chondrilla junceа with coefficient of population “3”. There has been a positive but not significant correlation (r=0.12, p≤ 0.05) between the species Centaurea calcitrapa, Cntaurea cyanus, Vicia sp., Convolvulus arvensis, Centaurea solstitialis, Centaurea sp., Salix sp., Plantago sp. and Morus nigra with coefficient of population „2”. There has been a highly significant negative correlation (r=-0.85, p≤ 0.05) between the species Robinia pseudoacacia, Brassica nigra, Carduus sp. and Cirsium sp. with coefficient of population „1”. There has been a highly significant positive correlation (r=0.56, p≤ 0.05) between the species Rosa canina, Amorfa fruticosa, Dipsacus sp. and Ranunculus sp. with coefficient of population „+” (Table 1).

Table 1: List of the some plant species according to their protein content (%), amount collected pollen (g) and population.

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There have been established 2 negative and 2 positive correlations of the analyzed plant species which have been most visited and naturally populated. It can be said that the bees collect the same amount pollen from these plant species regardless of its high or low protein content. We have to consider the flower type, the number of flowers, bees’ direct access pass, the distance to the hives, ecological factors and etc.

Conclusion

In this, experimental studies it is discover the preferences of honey bees for different types of pollen. The knowledge of the flora in the area of beekeeping is very important and giving information about the productivity of the bee colonies. The honey bees have them floro-specialization and floro migration. It is found no relation between amount of collected pollen and its protein content. Such a studies will lead to the understanding of the importance of the flora for good beekeeping practice. It is necessary to keep and protect the native flora, which provide to the bee’s food. From ecological point of view, it is necessary to conserve the natural flora in order to ensure the normal feeding of the bees and the maintenance of the biodiversity.

References

  1. Dietz A (1975) The hive and the honey bee. Ed. Dadant & Sons, Journal Printing Co., Illinois, USA, pp. 1324.
  2. Radev Zh, Liolios V, Tananaki C, Thrasyvoulou A (2014) The Impact of the Nutritive Value of Pollen on the Development, Reproduction and Productivity of Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.). Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science 20(3): 685-689.
  3. Haydak M (1961) Influence of storage on the nutritive value of pollen for newly emerged honeybees. American Bee Journal 101: 354-355.
  4. Stroykov S (1963) Digestibility of pollen by the bees. Beekeeping 6: 23- 25.
  5. Kleinschmidt GJ, Kondos AK (1977) The influence of crude protein levels on colony performance. The Australian Beekeeper 79: 357-361.
  6. Liolios V, Tananaki C, Dimou M, Kanelis D, Goras G, et al. (2016) Ranking pollen from bee plants according to their protein contribution to honey bees. Journal of Apicultural Research 54 (5): 582-592.
  7. Radev Z (2018) Variety in Protein Content of Pollen from 50 Plants from Bulgaria. Bee World 95(3): 81-83.
  8. Maheshwari P (1950) An Introduction to the Physiology of Angiosperms. McGraw-Hill, New York, USA, pp. 453.
  9. Hodges D (1952) The pollen loads of the honeybee. Bee Research Assiciation, London, pp.120.
  10. Radev Z (2018) Relation between amount of collected pollen by the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) and its protein content. Ecological engineering and environment protection 4: 10-16.
  11. Louveaux J, Maurizio A, Vorwohl G (1978) Methods of Melissopalynology. Bee World 4: 139-157.
  12. Radev Zh, Raycheva Ts (2012) Seasonal Dynamics of Honey Plants in Belozem Region (Plovdiv District). Ecology and Future 11(2): 37-42.
  13. Braun-Blanquet J (1964) Pflanzensoziologie. Grundzüge der Vegetationskunde 3 Aufl. Springer Verlag, Wien-New York, USA, pp. 865.

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