Research proposal Eeva-Liisa Alanen Department of Applied Biology Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry University of Hels

1. IV Seminario y Taller Mesoamericano sobre abejas sin aguijón San Ignacio, El Salvador, Diciembre 2005 Research proposalEeva-Liisa AlanenDepartment of Applied BiologyFaculty of Agriculture and ForestryUniversity of HelsinkiFinland

2. The relative importance of indigenous forest trees as food plants for Melipona beecheii in La Palma, Chalatenango, El Salvador

3. Outline of the presentation • Introduction • Materials and methods • Timetable

4. Introduction

5. Introduction Meliponiculture in La Palma • important source of income • Melipona beecheii • deforestation of hill slopes • more research needed on food plants

6. Introduction Research framework project PROMABOS • “Flora of La Palma” by Martin Smeets • palynological work by Vilma Landaverde and Carlos Ruano • reforestation work by Marieke Sandker

7. Introduction Research framework after project PROMABOS • more spesific research needed on food plants (especially indigenous forest trees) • seasonal and daily variation of the relative importance of indigenous forest trees for Melipona beecheii • continuation of the work done by Vilma Landaverde and Marieke Sandker

8. Materials and methods

9. Materials and methods Pollen and nectar samples • meliponarios in the PROMABOS area • pollen load samples at the hive entrance (daily and seasonal variation) • pollen samples from the hive • nectar samples from the hive

10. Materials and methods Palynological work • pollen analysis of the pollen and nectar samples • seasonal pollen and nectar collection spectras • daily variation in pollen collection patterns • nectar samples: limitations of the pollen analysis method • new pollen slides to be added to the reference collection

11. Materials and methods Flower visitation studies • recordingthe flower visitation patterns of Melipona beecheii in the field • plantations made by PROMABOS and other study sites (indigenous forest trees) • recording environmental variables • other useful methods: the mark-recapture method, GIS (Geographical Information Systems)

12. Materials and methods Assessing the relative importance of indigenous forest trees for Melipona beecheii • results of palynological work and field studies combined • seasonal availability of floral resources • scientific importance: pilot study, ecological research questions • practical importance: information for beekeepers and for reforestation

13. Timetable

14. Timetable Field work and pollen analysis period • field work: at least one year in La Palma • May 2007 to April 2008 • palynological work also in El Salvador Data analysis and writing period • University of Helsinki, Finland • supervisor professor Heikki Hokkanen • completed in autumn 2009

15. ¡Gracias!Questions?Comments?