Number Of Pollen Types Research Articles

Palynological characterisation of palm honey (Sabal yapa) produced in Yucatan (Mexico)

The palm honey (Sabal yapa C. Wright ex Becc.) (Sabal honey henceforth) is one of 22 unifloral honeys recognised in the Yucatan Peninsula. This honey is harvested in February and March when Sabal yapa bloom but encompasses other important melliferous plants during the harvest season. A melissopalynological study of 24 honey samples from Tizimín, Yucatan (Mexico) was used to determine if Sabal honey is monofloral or multifloral, and to investigate the pollen contribution of other plants. Consequently, we determined the plant resources foraged by Apis mellifera. After analysis, 54 different pollen types were identified with the number of pollen types per honey sample ranging between nine and 21, with a mean of 14.75. Asteraceae and Fabaceae were the most diverse families and represented the highest percentage of contribution in pollen spectra. Sabal yapa pollen had a mean content of 56.9% (with a range of 45.4% to 84%). Bursera simaruba, Haematoxylum campechianum, Piscidia piscipula and Viguiera dentata were categorised as secondary pollen. Important minor pollen corresponded to Caesalpinia gaumeri, Ceiba pentandra, Pisonia aculeata, Thouinia paucidentata, and Trixis inula. Pollen composition revealed details of not only the rich native flora that accompanies Sabal yapa, but traditional human activities that occur around the apiaries. As expected, pollen of nectariferous species predominate in the samples, but also a number of nectarless species were found. Honeybees foraged mostly in trees present in remnants of primary vegetation, or at its different succession stages. Sabal honey could be labelled as monofloral.

Qualitative analysis of Apis mellifera L. honey in an ecotone area in the Bahian semiarid

This study aimed to identify the pollen types of 11 honey samples produced in apiaries of two cities in the State of Bahia, Brazil: Antônio Gonçalves (five samples) and Campo Formoso (six samples); to verify richness and diversity from each apiary and to compare the similarity among them. The samples were obtained from beekeepers according to the period of production and availability. The palynological analysis of these samples followed the standard procedures of melissopalynology with the use of acetolysis. The pollen types occurring in the honey samples were identified and at least 1,000 pollen grains per sample were counted to determine the frequency classes and the frequency of occurrence. Overall, 147 pollen types were detected, of which 143 are distributed in 35 botanical families. The most representative families concerning the number of pollen types were: Fabaceae (33), Asteraceae (18), Euphorbiaceae (11), Anacardiaceae and Malvaceae (09 types each), Rubiaceae (08) and Myrtaceae (07). The average value of pollen types per sample was 28.18. The genus that contributed the most was Mimosa L. (Fabaceae) with eight pollen types detected. The wealth of pollen types found revealed important information about the local flora which is explored by Apis mellifera. Therefore, it becomes an important tool to assist in the preservation and propagation of these plants and, consequently, increasing honey production.

Polliniferous flora foraged by Melipona bees along the Rio Negro in the Brazilian Amazon

Undoubtedly, Melipona bees are the most widely managed native American bee species for the production of honey and related products. These bees have been reared since before the arrival of Europeans on the continent. Despite being considered generalists due to their life histories, each stingless bee species has food preferences easily adapting to the available resources. Seeking to contribute to the understanding of the food ecology of Melipona bees, 17 pollen samples from six species found in natural nests along the Rio Negro were analysed. The pollen material was homogenised and prepared following the standard acetolysis technique. Relative frequency, the similarity between diets and correlation of diets with bee body size were determined. Thirty-two pollen types (17 botanical families) were identified, 13 of which were considered attractive, while six promoted temporary specialisation events. The results reaffirmed the potential generalist pattern of these bees with temporary specialisation events, being strongly influenced by local conditions. The diversity of pollen types per pot was not related to bee body size. Also, the number of pollen types found in each nest did not correlate to the number of pots analysed revealing non-neutral determinants for each species pollen richness. With the results obtained, it was clear that certain plants were more as food sources which could support conservation programmes and help meliponiculture in the Amazon.

Variação temporal na dieta, valor nutricional e produção do pólen coletado por Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) em área de caatinga

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a origem botânica, o efeito temporal na concentração de nutrientes, o potencial de produção e o valor nutricional do pólen apícola produzido na cidade de Serra Talhada-PE. O trabalho de campo foi realizado no período de abril de 2014 a março de 2015. A coleta do pólen apícola foi realizada quinzenalmente em quatro colmeias. Foram realizadas as análises de origem botânica e as análises nutricionais do pólen relativas à porcentagem de proteína bruta e extrato etéreo. Modelos lineares generalizados e correlação de Spearman entre as variáveis foram utilizadas. Foram encontrados 63 tipos polínicos, distribuídos em 21 famílias, 39 gêneros, 34 espécies e 11 tipos indeterminados. As famílias mais representadas em números de espécies foram Leguminosae e Malvaceae. A produção de pólen apícola foi maior no período chuvoso do que no período seco, estando negativamente relacionada com a temperatura e de maneira positiva com a umidade. O valor nutritivo do pólen coletado mudou ao longo dos meses amostrados. Não houve relação entre os teores de proteína bruta e extrato etéreo com o número de tipos polínicos e com a precipitação. Com base na análise polínica, pode-se inferir que a área de Caatinga estudada mantém uma grande diversidade de fontes de recursos para as abelhas, sendo Leguminosae, a família responsável pela maior oferta de alimento para a mesma. Este estudo mostra que a vegetação localizada em Serra Talhada-PE apresenta espécies de plantas com elevado teor nutritivo e grande potencial para a produção de pólen apícola.

Pollen analysis of Apis dorsata Fabricius honeys in Bankura and Paschim Medinipur districts, West Bengal

One-hundred-and-five species corresponding to 38 families were identified through pollen analyses of 53 Apis dorsata honeys collected from Bankura and Paschim Medinipur districts, West Bengal. The families most frequently encountered were Fabaceae, Arecaceae, Asteraceae and Myrtaceae. Fabaceae had the greatest representation in number of pollen types (18 types), followed by Asteraceae (nine types), Cucurbitaceae (seven types), Lamiaceae and Myrtaceae (each with six types) and Malvaceae and Rutaceae (each with five types). Most of the honey samples correspond to class I. The presence of dominant pollen was detected in 18 samples. The predominant pollen types were Borassus flabellifer, Sesamum indicum (during summer), Eucalyptus globulus (during late autumn), Brassica nigra, Eucalyptus globulus (during winter) and Borassus flabellifer and Lannea coromandelica (during spring). The unifloral honeys obtained mostly during late autumn and winter were dominated by Eucalyptus globulus type. In monsoon and autumn unifloral honeys containing predominant pollen types (> 45%) were not found. However, according to frequency distribution the pollen types represented as very frequent were Peltophorum pterocarpum, Tridax procumbens (in monsoon) and Acacia auriculiformis, Cocos nucifera, Eucalyptus globulus, Tridax procumbens and Ziziphus mauritiana (in autumn). The seasonal diversity of pollen types obtained was at a maximum during spring (36 types) and minimum during late autumn (14 types). Seasonal variation in the number of pollen types per sample range from 5.86 ± 1.87 (during late autumn) to 6.86 ± 1.95 (during autumn) and exhibit low correlation (r = 0.31) with floral diversity. The diversity of pollen types per unifloral honey sample remains lower than multifloral honeys.

Spectrum of Pollen Stored by Melipona mandacaia (Smith, 1863) (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponini) in an Urban Arid Landscape

The objective of this study was to identify the species of pollen supplying plants that constitute the trophic niche of Melipona mandacaia in an urban area in the Caatinga domain (a tropical arid landscape). The collection of pollen in the colonies was carried out every 15 days, from October 2014 to September 2015. The pollen was removed directly from the storage pots in three distinct colonies. A total of 24 samples were analyzed and compared with the reference pollen collection, pollen catalogs and specialized literature. For the quantitative analysis, at least 1000 pollen grains per sample were identified. A total of 39 pollen types were identified, distributed in 17 botanical families, being one an indeterminate type. The most represented family was the Fabaceae (n = 16). The most frequent types were Leucaena leucocephala, Mimosa pudica and Melochia sp. There was a significant positive correlation between temperature and the number of pollen types throughout the study. Relative humidity and rainfall were abiotic variables that did not present a significant correlation. The rarefaction curve showed that probably most of the pollen types collected by the bees studied were sampled, since the accumulation curve showed a progressive tendency to stabilization, indicating that there was sample adequacy of the pollen types. The analysis of similarity revealed a high sharing of pollen sources between colonies.

Small pollen grain volumes and sizes dominate the diet composition of three South American subtropical stingless bees

The pollen preferences of three Meliponini species (Geotrigona argentina, Scaptotrigona jujuyensis and Tetragonisca fiebrigi) were studied in the Chaco forest of South America. Surprisingly, a large number of pollen types with small volumes and size were found in pollen masses stored in the 18 nests studied. Small pollen grains are commonly found in small flowers with short pistils, a flower morphology adapted to the pollination by these small- to medium-sized bees. The prevalence of grains with small volumes may be due to the preference of Meliponini bees for small flowers with short pistils, supporting a previously suggested hypothesis of diffuse co-evolution between mass-flowering trees and these tiny bees in Neotropical habitats. However, the opportunistic foraging habit of these generalist bees would suggest that the large number of grains with small size is due to their greater availability in the Chaco forest nearby the nests. This study also provides measurements and descriptions of pollen cytoplasmic shapes as well as a new classification of pollen volumes based from measurements of the five pollen size categories using non-acetolyzed grains.

Pollen diversity in honey from Sergipe, Brazil

The pollen contents of honeys from 22 different municipalities of the Brazilian state of Sergipe were analysed. A total of 90 pollen types distributed in 32 plant families were identified. Fabaceae had the highest representation in number of pollen types (29 types), followed by Asteraceae (eight types), Rubiaceae (seven types), Anacardiaceae and Malvaceae (four each) and Euphorbiaceae and Myrtaceae (three each). The presence of dominant pollen was detected in 14 samples, with the dominant types Mimosa pudica in five samples, Alternanthera in two samples, Angelonia, Cocos nucifera, Mimosa arenosa, Mimosa tenuiflora, Myrcia, Prosopis juliflora, Protium and Schinus in one sample each. Eleven pollen types were recorded as accessory pollen: Borreria verticillata, Mimosa pudica, Tapira in three samples, Mitracarpus hirtus in two samples, Angelonia, Baccharis, Cocos nucifera, Melastomataceae, Protium, Salvia and Senna macranthera in one sample each. Pollen types from the genus Mimosa were prominent in the samples indicating the important contribution of species with palynological affinities with the pollen types found in this genus in the apicultural production of the region. Pollen types from species endemic to the Caatinga were found in the pollen spectrum for Sergipe: Mimosa adenophylla, Mimosa ophthalmocentrica, Mimosa setuligera and Mimosa xiquexiquensis from Fabaceae, and Ziziphus joazeiro from Rhaminaceae.

Palynological richness and evenness: insights from the taxa accumulation curve

Palynology provides the opportunity to make inferences on changes in diversity of terrestrial vegetation over long time scales. The often coarse taxonomic level achievable in pollen analysis, differences in pollen production and dispersal, and the lack of pollen source boundaries hamper the application of diversity indices to palynology. Palynological richness, the number of pollen types at a constant pollen count, is the most robust and widely used diversity indicator for pollen data. However, this index is also influenced by the abundance distribution of pollen types in sediments. In particular, where the index is calculated by rarefaction analysis, information on taxonomic richness at low abundance may be lost. Here we explore information that can be extracted from the accumulation of taxa over consecutive samples. The log-transformed taxa accumulation curve can be broken up into linear sections with different slope and intersect parameters, describing the accumulation of new taxa within the section. The breaking points may indicate changes in the species pool or in the abundance of high versus low pollen producers. Testing this concept on three pollen diagrams from different landscapes, we find that the break points in the taxa accumulation curves provide convenient zones for identifying changes in richness and evenness. The linear regressions over consecutive samples can be used to inter- and extrapolate to low or extremely high pollen counts, indicating evenness and richness in taxonomic composition within these zones. An evenness indicator, based on the rank-order-abundance is used to assist in the evaluation of the results and the interpretation of the fossil records. Two central European pollen diagrams show major changes in the taxa accumulation curves for the Lateglacial period and the time of human induced land-use changes, while they do not indicate strong changes in the species pool with the onset of the Holocene. In contrast, a central Swedish pollen diagram shows comparatively little change, but high richness during the early Holocene forest establishment. Evenness and palynological richness are related for most periods in the three diagrams, however, sections before forest establishment and after forest clearance show high evenness, which is not necessarily accompanied by high palynological richness, encouraging efforts to separate the two.

Larval food sources of Centris (Heterocentris) analis (Fabricius, 1804) (Hymenoptera: Apidae), an oil-collecting bee

Pollen analysis of larval food allows identification of plants used as nest provision sources. Considering the importance of Centris analis in pollination, we aimed to identify its plant sources, food niche width in Cerrado, and analyze the use of sources between cool/dry and warm/wet seasons. We sampled 22 nests collected in two areas from February 2008 to October 2009. Heteropterys spp. (Malpighiaceae) were the main pollen sources, but Byrsomia spp. (Malpighiaceae), Banisteriopsis malifolia (Malpighiaceae), Solanum lycocarpum (Solanaceae) and Machaerium spp. (Leguminosae) were also important food sources. There was no difference in the use of the sources between the seasons (F1,100 = 0.001; p = 0.979). Despite the high number of pollen types (n = 14) the food niche widths were low, H = 0.777 and H = 0.949, which can be explained by the dominance of some food items. Hence, C. analis use, profusely, a few plants as food sources that could be considered conservation targets.

Pollen morphology of the Myrtaceae. Part 2: tribes Backhousieae, Melaleuceae, Metrosidereae, Osbornieae and Syzygieae

Pollen morphology of 16 genera and 101 species from the Myrtaceae tribes Backhousieae, Melaleuceae, Metrosidereae, Osbornieae and Syzygieae was surveyed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LM). The most common pollen type observed in these tribes was parasyncolpate with arcuate or angular colpi, and a rugulate exine pattern. There was little size variation in observed pollen, except for larger pollen in tribe Melaleuceae. All Metrosideros pollen grains had apocolpial islands, as well as all Callistemon species viewed by LM. Choricarpia of tribe Backhousieae had pollen with a distinctive exine pattern. Dicolporate pollen were observed in two tribes, Metrosidereae (Tepualia) and Syzygieae (Acmena), and may be of systematic value. The dicolporate grains of these two genera were also easily distinguishable from each other by using size and pollen side shape as diagnostic characters. Two pollen types were observed within the genus Melaleuca, and a number of pollen types were observed within the species-rich genus Syzygium.

Pollen analysis of honeys from Caatinga vegetation of the state of Bahia, Brazil

Based on pollen analysis, 17 honey samples collected in the Caatinga area from Nova Soure city were classified by botanical origin to identify the most important floral sources. Most of the honey samples were obtained in August and September. A total of 73 pollen types were identified belonging to 30 families, 64 genera and 30 species. The families best represented by their number of pollen types were Mimosaceae (11), Caesalpiniaceae (9), Rubiaceae and Fabaceae (5 each). Predominant pollen types were: Mimosa arenosa in four samples, M. sensitiva and M. tenuiflora in one sample. Pollen from Mimosa ursina was registered for the first time in the pollen spectrum of the Caatinga vegetation. The correspondence analysis showed a similarity among the honey samples based on pollen composition. The high representation of pollen from native species such as Chamaecrista nictitans, C. ramosa, C. swainsonii and Copaifera martii (Caesalpiniaceae); Aeschynomene martii and Zornia sericea (Fabaceae); Herissantia tiubae (Malvaceae); Mimosa arenosa, M. quadrivalvis, M. sensitiva, M. tenuiflora, M. ursina, Piptadenia moniliformis and Plathymenia reticulata (Mimosaceae), and Ziziphus joazeiro (Rhamnaceae) supports the origin of these honeys from Caatinga vegetation.

Pollen characterization of multifloral honeys from La Palma (Canary Islands)

The pollen content of twenty-five honey samples from twelve different apiaries on La Palma (Canary Islands) was subjected to qualitative and quantitative melissopalynological analysis. The quantitative analysis showed that 4% of the honey belonged to Maurizio Class II, 88% to Class III, 4% to Class IV and 4% to Class V. In the qualitative analysis, 60 pollen types were identified from 40 different families. The number of pollen types per honey sample ranges between 16 and 37 (mean of 25.8). Foeniculum vulgare-type and Rumex sp. pollen were present in all the samples. Castanea sativa and Echium plantagineum pollen were found in 96% of them and the combination Aspalathium bituminosum, Bidens pilosa-type and Erica arborea in 92%.

Seasonal airborne pollen pattern in Mar del Plata City, Argentina

Continuous aerobiological survey of the atmosphere of Mar del Plata was carried out from December 1991 to November 1993 with a Burkard volumetric spore trap. Daily slides were prepared and studied every 2 h with standard techniques. Weekly records were kept for 27 relevant pollen types selected either by their prevalence or relative high atmospheric concentration. Quantitative multivariate analysis enabled to distinguish three major pollen seasons, related to atmospheric dominance either arboreal pollen (AP) or non-arboreal pollen (NAP). June to October is the richest period in number of pollen types, mainly dominated by AP; while from November to May, there is an overwhelming dominance of NAP types, represented by grass, herb and weed pollen. The study and prediction of this phenomenon is of great interest not only from the ecosystem point of view, but in relation to human disease as well.

The relationship between modern pollen samples and environment in the humid tropics region of northeastern Australia

Pollen samples from moss polsters and litter were taken from 14 floristically-describes rainforest and marginal rainforest sites considered to cover a large range of existing environmental variation. One hundred and forty pollen types were identified of which only a small number could be related to parent species. However, a number of pollen types had systematic representation in relation to major environmental parameters, and pattern analyses revealed marked similarities in spatial distributions of sites based on pollen and species data. Site ordination demonstrated high correlation between pollen variation and annual and seasonal attributes of climate as well as soil fertility indicating the potential for refining palaeoenvironmental reconstructions from pollen diagrams produced from the region.

Comparison of airborne pollen grains in Huddinge and Stockholm, Sweden

Airborne pollen studies were carried out, by means of Burkard volumetric spore traps, at two different sites (the city of Stockholm and the suburb Huddinge) 15 km apart in the Stockholm region. Within the city of Stockholm the study was carried out in 1973–89 while in Huddinge the investigation period was 1977–82. In all the years under investigation the total pollen catch and the number of pollen types were higher in Stockholm than in Huddinge. The reason for this is not explained by the composition of the local vegetation surrounding the traps. It is concluded that parameters such as qualitative changes in the daily catches and occurrence during the main pollen season are more important than the absolute daily figures. The cyclic trends in the local annual sums over a long period of years do not show any periodicity that is altogether regular and reliable.

The value of pollen count for diagnosis and therapy of pollen allergy in Poland

Abstract The occurrence of symptoms of pollen allergy is closely related to the presence of airborne pollen. In the region of southeastern Poland this kind of allergy appears usually from the middle of May till the end of July, when Gramineae and Cerealia pollens are discharging. This was confirmed by palynological studies here reported, performed in the years 1982–1987, and coupled with simultaneous assessment of 60 patients suffering from pollinosis. The results show that the total number of pollen types is variable in consecutive years. This indicates that both the exposition of patients to pollen allergens and the disease symptoms might vary.

Sporoderm morphogenesis in <i>Euphorbia obesa</i> and <i>Croton gratissimus</i>

Pollen grains of the Euphorbiaceae show a number of pollen types which can be clearly distinguished. Generally different genera are characterized by a specific pollen type. Euphorbia obesa Hook. f. and Croton gratissimus Burch, subsp. subgratissimus (Prain) Burtt Davy, represent two genera within the Crotonoideae with different morphology, each type characteristic for the respective genus. Taxonomically, the genus Euphorbia with apetalous flowers consisting of a naked pistil surrounded by several staminate flowers within a cyathium, is considered more advanced than the genus Croton. In Croton the inflorescence is a raceme with unisexual flowers. The floral whorls of the male show numerous anthers and both calyx and a showy corolla are present. Both genera are insect pollinated. In both Euphorbia obesa and Croton gratissimus the pollen wall in section shows columellae, a structure characteristic of angiosperms. However the present ontogenetic studies show that the formation of the columellae differs entirely in the two pollen types. The final stratification of the wall as well as the morphology of the grains differ and evaluation of the exine structure indicates that phylogenetically Croton pollen shows more advanced characters than Euphorbia — contradicting the floral phylogeny. This study conducted at light and electron microscope level compares the two pollen types morphologically and ontogenetically, concentrating mainly on the formation of the exine which is tectate-perforate in the prolate tricolpate grain of Euphorbia obesa and semi-tectate in the anaperturate, spheroidal grain of Croton gratissimus. The aim of the study was to evaluate the significance of pollen characters in taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships within the Euphorbiaceae. The differing pollen morphology which is related to the taxonomic grouping of tribes within the subfamily (Crotonoideae) emphasizes diversity, which may result from physiological adaptation. The study shows that the same functional end may well be achieved in different ways and this may be a factor underlying the diversity in the heterogeneous family Euphorbiaceae.