Abstract
<p>The aim of this study was to determine sources of pollen for the honeybee in the Bojanów forest complex, Nowa Dęba Forest District (southeastern Poland). Sampling of pollen loads from bees extended from the beginning of May until the end of September 2016 and was carried out at 7-day intervals using pollen traps mounted at the entrance of beehives. A total of 73 pollen load samples were collected from the study area.</p><p>Fifty-nine taxa from 31 plant families were identified in the analyzed material. From 4 to 21 taxa (average 9.5) were recorded in one sample. The pollen of Brassicaceae (“others”), <em>Taraxacum</em> type, <em>Solidago</em> type, and <em>Rumex</em> had the highest frequency in the pollen loads examined. Apart from these four taxa, pollen grains of <em>Rubus</em> type, Poaceae (“others”), <em>Calluna</em>, <em>Fagopyrum</em>, <em>Trifolium repens</em> s. l., <em>Phacelia</em>, <em>Aster</em> type, <em>Melampyrum</em>, <em>Quercus</em>, <em>Cornus</em>, and <em>Veronica</em> were recorded in the dominant pollen group. The forest habitat taxa that provided pollen rewards to honeybees in the Bojanów forest complex were the following: <em>Rubus</em>, <em>Calluna</em>, <em>Prunus</em>, <em>Tilia</em>, <em>Frangula alnus</em>, <em>Pinus</em>, <em>Quercus</em>, <em>Cornus</em>, <em>Robinia pseudoacacia</em>, <em>Salix</em>, and <em>Vaccinium</em>. Apart from forest vegetation, the species from meadows and wastelands adjacent to this forest complex, represented by <em>Taraxacum</em>, <em>Rumex</em>, <em>Plantago</em>, Poaceae, <em>Trifolium repens</em>, and <em>Solidago</em>, proved to be an important source of pollen. The study indicates that forest communities are a valuable source of pollen for pollinating insects from early spring through to late fall.</p>
Highlights
Pollen is necessary for the nutrition of bees, for which it is the main source of protein, fats, vitamins, mineral salts, and water [1]
A total of 73 pollen load samples were obtained from the Bojanów forest complex, including nine in May, 12 in June, 20 in July, and 16 samples in both August and September
Pollen loads collected in July and August had the highest number of taxa identified
Summary
Pollen is necessary for the nutrition of bees, for which it is the main source of protein, fats, vitamins, mineral salts, and water [1]. A bee’s life-span and its physiological state as well as the proper development of the pharyngeal glands of honeybee workers all depend on its consumption [2,3,4]. The number of larvae in a bee colony determines its collection and consumption [5]. According to Maurizio [3], pollen is characterized by its varying nutritional value. As far as this trait is concerned, this author distinguished three pollen groups, as of high, medium, or low nutritional value for bees. Among the taxa cited by Maurizio [3], there are pollen grains of forest trees and shrubs
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