Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Chiná, Calle 11 entre 22 y 28 Colonia Centro Chiná, 24050, Campeche, Mexico.
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4, Canada.
J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2019 Mar 8;15(1):16. doi: 10.1186/s13002-019-0296-1.
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.
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.
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.
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.
了解本土蜜源植物（MF）的知识可能有助于确定在尤卡坦半岛（YP）地区每年旱季和雨季期间可用于养蜂活动的物种多样性。食物资源的严重短缺极大地减少了当地的蜂蜜产量，需要加以适当解决。本研究的目的是确定当地 MF、它们的花蜜和花粉贡献、它们的开花模式，以及为当地养蜂场附近建立的植被标准，以稳定生产优质蜂蜜。该研究还调查了这种方法如何帮助完成维持蜜蜂种群所需的年度开花周期，从而防止在社区食物严重短缺期间蜂群逃散。
我们对 40 名当地养蜂人进行了全面调查，访谈了他们，还查阅了具有高养蜂潜力的全球本土 MF 生物多样性信息网络数据库中的植物标本（CICY），记录了它们的花蜜和花粉的贡献以及它们的开花模式。此外，我们还记录了与同一养蜂人关于在墨西哥坎佩切州霍佩琴的 Xmabén 社区建立养蜂场附近理想植被组成部分的必要条件的访谈，以实现高质量蜂蜜的生产。
我们已经确定了 56 种具有养蜂潜力的本土 MF 物种，需要在养蜂场周围种植，以帮助蜜蜂成功运行养蜂生产周期。因此，Xmabén 社区的 MF 多样性构成了该地区及周边地区成功养蜂的宝贵资源。我们发现，22.5%的当地养蜂人专门从事养蜂业，而 77.5%的人则将其作为次要活动来从事，因为农业（60%）、泥瓦匠（10%）和牲畜管理（7.5%）等方面有更好的收入来源。生成的数据可以帮助进一步扩大当地的养蜂场、养蜂业务，并为当地养蜂业的未来发展创造机会。养蜂人的本土知识是全面的，并证实了从植物标本中收集到的关于 MF 的技术信息，进一步强调了本土知识在传统养蜂实践中的价值。
从人类生态学的角度来看，我们的研究揭示了收集、分析和解释本土知识的必要性，以便在不使用昂贵的现代技术的情况下，通过长期的可持续的、传统的和环境友好的方法来解决基于生态系统的问题，从而促进该地区的传统养蜂实践。
