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Pot-Honey pp 285–294Cite as

Palynology Serving the Stingless Bees

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Abstract

Palynological investigation of pollen loads and honey of stingless bees allows recognizing bee floral preferences in different localities, the local vegetation types, and quality of the bee products. Data on pollen analysis of samples obtained in several Brazilian regions were studied. Additional elements were also noted, such as bacteria, plant hairs, oil, spores and fungal hyphae, starch, wood, yeast, and organic and other materials. Monofloral and heterofloral honeys were considered, as well as the pollen harvested by different bee species. Palynological analysis of geopropolis indicated the vegetation of phytogeographical regions. Standardization of sample collection and laboratory techniques is recommended.

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Acknowledgments

I thank Professor Patricia Vit (Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela) for encouragement to write this chapter and Dr. David Roubik (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Ancon, Panama) for careful editing, and also the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico/CNPq for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fiocruz and Department of Botany, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Ortrud Monika Barth

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  1. Ortrud Monika Barth
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Correspondence to Ortrud Monika Barth .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Zumba Sur, University of the Andes, Villa Del Rio 8, Merida, 5101, Venezuela

    Patricia Vit

  2. Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, 14040-901, São Paulo, Brazil

    Silvia R. M. Pedro

  3. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Ancon, Panama

    David Roubik

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Barth, O.M. (2013). Palynology Serving the Stingless Bees. In: Vit, P., Pedro, S., Roubik, D. (eds) Pot-Honey. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4960-7_20

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