Diversity of Nectar-Producing Plant Species, and their Potentialities on Suburban Farms in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Abstract

Context: Success in beekeeping depends on the existence of plant resources for bee consumption, so research on the flora with uses in apiculture is essential. Aim: To evaluate the diversity of bee species, and their potentialities, on suburban farms in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. Methods: The composition and diversity of bee species were established through sample collection, which included 100 m2 (10 x 10) lots. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to determine the potential uses attributed to such species, related to honey production. Results: A number of 51 species were enlisted, of which three stood out for their abundance and distribution. Musa, Polianthes tuberosa, Ipomoea batata, Amaranthus dubius, and Mangifera indica. The farms with the largest bee-related flora were La Cecilia, Erick Vega, and La República. Helianthus annuus and Mangifera indica were the most frequently visited by the bees, with at least less than 50% of the reports issued by the technicians. Conclusions: The farms included in the study have a stable flora, with a balanced distribution, and a diversity that tends to reduce dominance. Their similarity was low-moderate, thus proving that the bee species range between exclusiveness and the potential adaptation to the conditions of the ecosystems studied. There was an adequate social perception of the nectar-producing plant species on these farms, with a thought potential to offer this service to the ecosystem in their communities.

Keywords

• beekeeping
• agroecosystems
• biodiversity
• nectar
• weeds