Caracterização das propriedades e do espectro polínico de mel de abelhas Jataí (Tetragonisca angustula) proveniente de área antropizada urbana no contexto do bioma cerrado

Abstract

The Cerrado, the second largest biome in South America, is located in a part of the Brazilian central, has rich biodiversity, and has been experiencing increasing human pressure. The Cerrado biome has a diverse fauna of stingless bees that play a crucial ecological role due to their function as pollinators. Among them, the Jataí bee (Tetragonisca angustula), a small-sized bee common in Cerrado environments, stands out for its wide distribution and generalist behavior. Considering the ecological importance of the species and its influence on the urbanized context of the biome. The present study aimed to identify the physical properties and pollen spectrum of honey from Tetragonisca angustula originating from an anthropized area of the Cerrado biome. To achieve this objective, a honey sample was collected from a Tetragonisca angustula hive located at the Instituto do Tropico Subúmido on campus 2 of the Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás. The collected material was prepared according to classical melissopalynology protocols, which involved physicochemical treatment for the concentration of pollen grains. Slide preparation and microscopic analysis were carried out for pollen identification. Considering the morphological criteria and the relative frequency of pollen types, the sample was evaluated both quantitatively and qualitatively in order to obtain the identification of the palynomorphs. In addition, the physical characteristics of the sample, such as color, aroma, and viscosity, were also identified. The results revealed 8 pollen types in the 8 honey slides analyzed, with the Andira and Arecaceae types being the most representative of the sample, accounting for 90.6% of all the slides analyzed, making it possible to classify the honey as monofloral tending towards bifloral. Other pollen types with lower presence, such as Mimosa (5.58%) and Smilax (2.53%), reinforce the generalist character of the species. The analyzed honey reflects the importance of T. angustula in areas with a strong human presence in the biome, as they perform important pollination work, maintaining the functioning of fragmented areas of the biome.