SOME NECTARIFEROUS PLANTS FOR HONEY BEES AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE

Öz

Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) have played a crucial role throughout human history and continue to maintain their significance today. Their importance in ecosystem functioning and agricultural activities is indisputable, particularly as one of the most critical pollinators. Plant nectar resources are essential for both honey bees and the production of bee products. The quantity and diversity of nectar and pollen sources play a decisive role in colony development, honey production, and overall bee health. Nectar-producing plants not only constitute the foundation of bee product production but also meet the energy requirements of bees and support the life cycle of colonies. Recent studies have demonstrated that the decline in floral diversity, habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use have seriously affected bee populations worldwide. In this review, recent studies indexed in major databases, including Web of Science, DergiPark, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Springer Nature, were examined. Based on the available literature, nectar-producing plants of importance to honey bees, their melliferous characteristics, their effects on colony health, and their significance for sustainable beekeeping were evaluated. Furthermore, several important nectar sources within the Turkish flora were specifically assessed. The biological activities of nectar-producing plants were highlighted through findings reported in the literature. The reviewed studies indicate that honeys derived from different plant species may exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anticancer potential. In this context, the conservation and promotion of nectar-producing plants are of strategic importance not only for beekeeping activities but also for human health and the sustainability of biodiversity.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Nectar plants
• bee forage plants
• Apis mellifera nutrition

BAL ARILARI İÇİN BAZI NEKTARLI BİTKİLER VE ÖNEMLERİ

Öz

Bal arıları (Apis mellifera L.), insanlık tarihince çok önemli olmuş ve bu önemini sürekli devam ettirmektedir. Ekosistemdeki döngü ve tarımsal faaliyetlerdeki önemleri tartışılmazdır. Özellikle polinatörler arasında en kritiklerdendir. Hem bal arıları hem de arı ürünleri için bitki nektarları oldukça gereklidir. Nektar ve polen kaynaklarının miktarı ve çeşitliliği, koloni gelişimi, bal üretimi ve arı sağlığı üzerinde belirleyici rol oynamaktadır. Nektarlı bitkiler, arı ürünlerinin üretiminin temelini oluşturmasının yanı sıra arıların enerji gereksinimlerini karşılamakta ve kolonilerin yaşam döngüsünü desteklemektedir. Son yıllarda yapılan çalışmalar floral çeşitliliğin azalması, habitat kaybı, iklim değişikliği ve pestisit kullanımının arı popülasyonlarını ciddi şekilde etkilediğini ortaya koymuştur. Bu derleme çalışmasında, Web of Science, Dergipark, Google scholar, Scopus ve Springer Nature gibi indekslerde son yıllarda yapılan güncel çalışmalar incelenmiştir. Literatür temelli olarak bal arıları açısından önemli nektarlı bitkiler, bu bitkilerin mellifer özellikleri, koloni sağlığına etkileri ve sürdürülebilir arıcılık açısından önemi ele alınmıştır. Ayrıca özellikle Türkiye florasında önemli bir yere sahip olan bazı nektar kaynakları değerlendirilmiştir. Nektarlı bitkilerin biyolojik aktiviteleri yapılan çalışmalar ile vurgulanmıştır. Yapılan değerlendirmeler, farklı bitki türlerinden elde edilen balların antioksidan, antimikrobiyal, antibakteriyel ve antikanser potansiyel sergileyebildiğini ortaya koymaktadır. Bu bağlamda nektarlı bitkilerin korunması ve yaygınlaştırılması, yalnızca arıcılık faaliyetleri için değil, aynı zamanda insan sağlığı ve biyoçeşitliliğin sürdürülebilirliği açısından da stratejik önem taşımaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Nektar bitkileri
• arıların besin kaynağı olan bitkiler
• Apis mellifera'nın beslenmesi

Kaynakça

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