Abstract
Bee bread samples from the hives of Tetragonula biroi managed in agricultural and agroforest sites in Nagcarlan, Laguna, Philippines were analyzed through light microscopy during the wet season from June to November. A total of 31 pollen types, belonging to 20 botanical families were identified as pollen sources of T. biroi. Adonidia merrilli Becc. and Cocos nucifera L. were consistent predominant pollen sources (>45%) in both sites. The other predominant pollen types in the agricultural site were Arecaceae type 1, Fabaceae type and Marantaceae type, and Ipomoea sp. in the agroforest site. A decreasing number of pollen types were observed from early to late wet months of the study period. Though both sites provide a wide array of pollen sources for T. biroi, the presence of long-blossoming crops resulted in the homogenization of pollen types in the hive. This study highlights the importance of crop diversity and surrounding natural vegetation in the agricultural landscape in providing various pollen sources for pollinators like T. biroi.
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