Botanical exploration for the implementation of an apiary in Bluefields, Nicaragua: A floristic approach to the Humid Tropics

Abstract

The humid tropic region on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua is the area with the greatest biodiversity and wealth in terms of environmental services. However, being an area of approximately 50% of the national territory, the potential for beekeeping has not been exploited. The development of beekeeping is one of the great opportunities in the community and commercial sphere to improve the standard of living of the population, ecologically sustainable and economically viable. The present research characterized the wild flora with energy potential, used by bees of the Apis genus through a floristic inventory in the Nicaraguan humid tropics. Work was done on two farms: Sconfran and San Eliseo. In both, a floristic inventory was developed with a random selection of plots, in which the tree, shrub and herb strata were sampled, to identify the contributions to the bees (honey, nectar and resin) and the estimation of biodiversity and stability. (equity) in each place. The results indicate the presence of 51 families and 28 botanical orders with a predominant presence in the San Eliseo farm, where there is the greatest distribution of herbs and shrubs, with greater accessibility to bees. Furthermore, more than 50% of these species, which guarantee flowering throughout the year at different overlapping times, provide nectar to this group of insects. This allows us to conclude the feasibility stay for the establishment of an apiary in the study area. More research is required integrating new variables.