Abstract

YUCA-RIVAS, Raúl. Intraannual variation in the pollen spectrum of honey producen in Huaran (Cusco, Perú). Ecol. apl. [online]. 2016, vol.15, n.1, pp.27-36. ISSN 1726-2216.

In order to determine how the pollen spectrum changes in honey production, obtained from apiaries placed in Huarán, Cusco, during the beekeeping season 2012 - 2013 and to identify sources of pollen and nectar used by Apis mellifera L., 75 honey samples were analyzed from 15 hives obtained by successive harvests corresponding to 5 bimonthly periods of the beekeeping season: period I (July - August 2012), period II (September - October 2012), period III (November - December 2012), period IV (January - February 2013) and period V (March - April 2013); in all cases acetolized microscopic preparations were carried out. Pollen types obtained were identified by comparison with a reference collection. A total of 113 pollen types were identified: 40 in period I, 55 in period II, 77 in period III, 75 in period IV and 81 in period V; Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Lamiaceae were the families which contributed to the largest number of pollen types. By applying a correspondence analysis, a clear relationship between species visited by honeybees and production periods could be determined; Escallonia resinosa (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. and Eucalyptus sp. were main sources of pollen and nectar. The composition of secondary and minor pollen was similar over the whole season, with Brassicaceae, Prunus sp. and Trifolium sp. as the most important taxa, due to their long flowering periods.

Keywords : melissopalynology; bee-plants; pollen types; Apis mellifera L.; Huarán.

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