Pollen Preferences of Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.) on Marmara Island

Islands have a special importance in terms of biodiversity. At the same time, it is important to follow the feeding behavior of pollinators that ensure the continuation of biodiversity throughout the island. In this study, it was aimed to follow the pollen collection activities of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) on Marmara Island and to determine the pollen sources. Pollen sampling was carried out weekly during the 14 weeks from the first week of April to the first week of July when honey bees intensively carried out pollen collection activities. The sampled pollen grains were classified according to their color and examined by light microscopy. A total of 34 taxa were identified from the pollen grains. The taxa represented in significant proportions were; Rosaceae, Fabaceae, and Centaurea, Ericaceae, Brassicaceae, Cistus, Helianthemum, Vitis and Salix. They constitute a total of 79.37%. Rosaceae family pollen has been found as the most preferred taxa by honey bees for 8 weeks. The first two weeks of May was the most productive period in terms of pollen species in Marmara Island and the amount of pollen brought to the hives decreased in early July. In this study, it was tried to shed light on the pollen collection preferences of honey bees and pollination periods of honey bee used plants under conditions of Marmara Island.