Perceptions of the local beekeepers on the diversity and flowering phenology of the melliferous flora in the community of Xmabén, Hopelchén, Campeche, Mexico

Abstract

Background The knowledge of native melliferous flora (MF) may contribute to identify the diversity of species available for beekeeping activities during the dry and rainy seasons of the year in the Yucatan Peninsula (YP) region. The acute shortage of food resources considerably reduce local honey production and needs to be addressed appropriately. The objective of this study has been identifying the local MF, their nectar and pollen contribution, their flowering patterns, and the criteria of the vegetation to be established adjacent to local apiaries for stable production of quality honey. The study also investigates how this approach helps to complete the annual flowering cycle required to maintain the honeybee colonies, thereby preventing swarm escapes during periods of acute food stress in the community of Xmabén, Hopelchén, Campeche, Mexico. Methodology We conducted a comprehensive survey based on interviews with 40 local beekeepers and a review of herbarium specimens (CICY) of the database of the global information network on the native MF biodiversity with high apiculture potential, the contribution of nectar and pollen they provide, and their flowering patterns. Furthermore, we documented interviews with the same beekeepers on the necessary conditions for establishing the ideal components of vegetation in areas adjacent to apiaries for high-quality honey production in the Xmabén community of Hopelchén, Campeche, Mexico. Results We have identified 56 native MF species with apiculture potential, that need to be planted around the apiaries for assisting honeybees in successfully running the beekeeping production cycle. Hence, the MF diversity of Xmabén community constitutes a valuable resource for successful beekeeping in the region and adjoining localities. We found that 22.5% of local beekeepers are dedicated exclusively to apilcilture, while 77.5% practice it as a secondary activity due to better sources of income in agriculture (60%), masonry (10%), and livestock management (7.5%). The data generated can help in further expansion of the local apiaries, beekeeping business, and in building future opportunities for the local apiculture industry. Indigenous knowledge of the beekeepers was comprehensive and corroborated the technical information on MF collected from the herbarium, further emphasizing the value of indigenous knowledge on traditional beekeeping practices. Conclusion From the perspective of human ecology, our study reveals the need of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting indigenous knowledge to facilitate traditional beekeeping practices of the region without using expensive, modern technology to solve ecosystem-based problems through long-term, sustainable, traditional, and environment friendly approaches.

Using a social-ecological system approach to enhance understanding of structural interconnectivities within the beekeeping industry for sustainable decision making

“…__________ [1] In this paper, we use the word "bee" as shorthand to refer to the European honeybee, Apis mellifera. We recognize that there are approximately 20,000 described species of bee, of which 50 are managed species, the honeybee being one of them.…”

“…Beekeepers' access to forage sites depends on a range of factors including biophysical conditions (e.g., blocked physical access due to vegetation growth), legislation (e.g., burning regimes), negotiations (e.g., with land owner or existing lease holder), changing land management practices (e.g., approval of new walking trails; RS5ai), and change in individual practice (e.g., upgrading truck size limits access to sites only accessible with smaller vehicles). The importance of forage locations with high species diversity (Coh-Martínez et al 2019) and increasing variability in flowering events cause full-time beekeepers to maintain a number of underused sites as backup (Fig. 5).…”

“…Beekeeping involves the production of honey and other bee products as well as crucial pollination services . For more than 15,000 years, the reciprocal relationship between Apis mellifera (the European honeybee [1] ) and Homo sapiens has resulted in mutually beneficial outcomes (Lehébel-Péron et al 2016), yet the interconnectedness between these two species has only been partially explored. Initial exploration of this relationship has used a social-ecological system (SES) approach to address resource management and sustainability of wild beehuman systems (Matias et al 2017).…”

Traditional and novel proposals for the protection of endangered pollinating insects

“…e scenario is extremely disturbing as it is inter-connected with the future agricultural productivity, food security and stability of our natural or semi-natural global ecosystems. It is therefore essential to formulate a comprehensive, long-term, cost e cient and sustainable model for conserving insect pollinators to secure the future of two important global areas, namely: agriculture (including apiculture) and forestry (Basu, Cetzal-Ix, 2018a, b, 2019Coh-Martinez et al, 2019). e wide diversity of owering plants -both dicotyledonous and monocotyledon-ous plants (which include a vast majority of our food and industrial crops), are directly or indirectly dependent on natural pollinators through cross-pollination necessary for their generative reproduction.…”

Nahua biocultural richness: an ethnoherpetological perspective

“…However, the information available reveals the existence of a high animal species richness. Although ethnozoological studies are still scarce, ethnobiological studies in the Sierra Negra, in the state of Puebla, inhabited by Nahua people are in progress [ 23 , 24 ], and this study forms part of this effort.…”