Levantamento florístico de interesse apícola no CCHSA/UFPB

Abstract

Apiculture, an agricultural activity characterized by low environmental impact and high profitability, depends on the availability of floral resources for the sustainability of production, making essential the knowledge of local vegetation to optimize hive management and reduce artificial feeding. The present study aims to conduct a floristic survey of the arboreal and shrubby apicultural pasture in an area destined for the implementation of a model apiary at the Center for Human, Social, and Agrarian Sciences (CCHSA/UFPB), located in Bananeiras-PB. The research, conducted between August and December 2024, involved the identification of species in six sample plots, evaluating 331 plant individuals distributed across 21 families and 49 botanical species. The most representative families were Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, Apocynaceae, and Anacardiaceae. The species Talisia esculenta stood out for the highest abundance, followed by Xylopia sericea and Vismia guianensis. The ten most abundant species, corresponding to 61% of the sampled individuals, mainly provide pollen to bees, with 40% of them also offering nectar. The results demonstrate the significant potential of the area for apicultural production, especially for pollen-based products such as propolis and royal jelly, supported by the annual distribution of floral resources. It is concluded that the vegetation surrounding the model apiary presents ecological and productive relevance, and it is necessary to deepen studies on the phenology of the species and plant-bee interactions in order to ensure greater precision in understanding the local api-flora and favor the traceability of apicultural products.