Document type
Academic documents
Document subtype
Master's dissertation
Title
Autenticidade do mel produzido por Apis mellifera L. no Parque Nacional da Gorongosa
Participants in the publication
Wilssone A. (Author)
M�guas C. (Co-Supervisor)
Dep. Biologia Vegetal
cE3c
Almeida P. (Co-Supervisor)
UNIVERSIDADE DE TRÁS-OS-MONTES E ALTO DOURO
Caravela M. (Co-Supervisor)
Faculdade de Ciências Naturais, Universidade Lúrio
Summary
Honey production in rural areas is seen as a very important alternative source of income, especially in communities near conservation areas where there is an abundance and diversity of plants for the production of quality honey. However, the benefits that can accrue from this activity may be harmed in situations where honey is adulterated, as it loses its value in the market, which results in the loss of local communities' income and greater pressure on natural resources. To avoid these problems, and to value the honey produced around Gorongosa National Park, research was carried out to evaluate the botanical characteristics in order to determine the most visited bee species in honey production by pollen analysis. and gauge the potential for the production of mono floral honeys; It was also the objective of this work to analyse the isotopic composition of honeys in order to gauge the possibility of distinguishing honeys. The research was a preliminary study for a possible distinction and authenticity of Gorongosa honey. The samples of flowers and honey used for the analyses were collected in the communities where the Park's apiculture program is being developed, in the Cheringoma and Gorongosa districts. Flower samples were used to prepare reference slides, which would later be used to compare with pollen grains found on honey. The samples were prepared following the acetylose method for qualitative honey analysis. The analysis of the isotopic composition of stable isotopes of 13C and 15N was performed by the isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). Pollen analysis indicated a great pollen diversity in honey, with predominance of the Fabaceae species. A great potential was also observed for the production of mono floral honeys, and 12 mono floral honeys were recorded in the universe of 24 honey samples. Analysis of the isotopic composition of Gorongosa honeys showed enriched values of nitrogen 15 on the ECC honeys due to the high presence of nitrogen-fixing plants and fertile soils; It also pointed an enriched values of carbon 13 on honeys from Serra da Gorongosa, as a result of water stress caused by the felling of trees to open agricultural fields. In general, all honeys had δ13C values higher than - 23.5 ‰, indicating their purity. The isotopic composition showed the possibility of differentiating the Serra da Gorongosa and CEC honeys. As a preliminary study, the results of this research are encouraging as they revealed the possibility of Gorongosa honey authentication and designation of origin based on the criteria of botanical and geographical origin, and isotopic composition. However, for this it was recommended to carry out more studies that included a larger sampling.
Date of Submisson/Request
2020
Date of Publication
2020
Institution
Consórcio de BioEducação do Chitengo
Publication Identifiers
Keywords
Conservation
Local communities
Beekeeping
Botanbotanical and geographical origin
Stable isotopes