Honey bee (Apis mellifera) foraging ecology in coffee landscapes and description of "coffee garden honey". Issue 3 (22nd August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zavala-Olalde, Angélica; Vandame, Rémy; Piana, Lucia; Morales, Helda; Colomo-González, Idalia; Valle-Mora, Javier; Villanueva-Gutiérrez, Rogel
• Is Part Of: Journal of apicultural research. Volume 55:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 230
• Page End: 239
• Publication Date: 2016-08-22
• Subjects: Apis mellifera -- Coffea arabica -- coffee garden -- agroecosystem -- honey characterization; Bee culture -- Periodicals; Bee culture; Periodicals; 638.105
• DOI: 10.1080/00218839.2016.1215128
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8839

Abstract

Abstract : When coffee is grown under shade trees, as in Mexico and Guatemala, coffee landscapes are complex and offer a high diversity of plants to the bees. This study focuses on the manner in which bees adapt their foraging behavior as a function of variation in tree coverage on a landscape scale. Study sites were characterized by satellite images and categorized according to percentage of tree cover: low (50–62%), medium (63–77%), and high (77–83%). Honey samples were collected from several apiaries in each landscape. In order to identify resources used by Apis mellifera, samples were analyzed according to melissopalynology. A random forest model analysis performed to compare different honeys did not show significant differences between honeys in any given landscape. Nevertheless, percentage of tree cover was positively correlated, in a significant manner, with the relative proportion of pollen from trees and from shrubs present in honey samples. These analyses, along with physical–chemical and sensory analyses were used to develop a first standard of reference for coffee garden honey.