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In this study honey samples produced by Melipona (Michmelia) seminigra merrillae, collected in seven counties distributed in the central and southern region of Amazonas state in Brazil, were analysed for their botanical origin, content and profile of phenolic compounds, and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Twenty-two pollen types were identified. The total phenolic content ranged from 17 to 66 mg GAE/g of extract; the highest contents were found in honeys produced from pollen types such as Clidemia and Myrcia. The antioxidant activity was higher in the samples that contained higher quantities of phenolic compounds. In relation to the antibacterial activity, samples CAD3, CAD4 and SAD3 presented the best results. Fourteen phenolic compounds were determined. Among them, we identified the flavonoid taxifolin, which has not previously been described in honeys from stingless bees, and we report the identification of catechol in Brazilian honey samples for the first time.

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This paper aims to identify the botanical origin of pollen loads collected by Apis mellifera L. in Canavieiras municipality, Bahia state. It provides a list of polliniferous plant species from the Atlantic Forest biome that are important for the development of regional apiculture. Using the acetolysis method, 35 bee-pollen samples were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Results showed that pollen types Elaeis (23.99%), Mimosa pudica (22.78%) and Cecropia (13.68%) were the most abundant among the samples. These also showed the highest relative frequencies of the material studied and were important pollen sources for bees in the study area.

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RESUMO(Composição florística e análise fitogeográfica de uma floresta semidecídua na Bahia, Brasil) As florestas semidecíduas na Bahia mostram-se bastante fragmentadas e têm sido pouco estudadas em relação à florística e à fitogeografia. Estas florestas estão situadas principalmente no semi-árido e isoladas da Mata Atlântica costeira por extensas áreas de caatinga. Este trabalho apresenta o levantamento florístico de um fragmento de floresta semidecídua na Serra da Fazenda Retiro (SFR), localizada no município de Feira de Santana, Bahia, com o objetivo principal de avaliar a sua posição fitogeográfica em relação às caatingas e à Mata Atlântica. Foram amostradas 173 espécies incluídas em 143 gêneros e 59 famílias. Myrtaceae foi a família que apresentou o maior número de espécies (15 spp.), seguida por Euphorbiaceae (13), Leguminosae (12), Malvaceae (7), Orchidaceae (7) e Rubiaceae (7). Além disso, foram coletadas três novas espécies dos gêneros Neomarica (Iridaceae), Pseudobombax (Malvaceae) e Solanum (Solanaceae). As análises de agrupamento pelo método UPGMA e de composição de espécies da SFR mostram que a área, apesar de estar situada dentro do Bioma Caatinga, apresenta uma maior relação florística com as florestas semidecíduas do Domínio da Floresta Atlântica. Palavras-chave: fitogeografia, flora, florestas secas, Mata Atlântica, semi-árido. ABSTRACT(Floristic composition and phytogeographical analysis of a semideciduous forest in Bahia State, Brazil) The semideciduous forests of Bahia occur as highly fragmented areas and have only received a little attention from floristic and phytogeographical studies. These areas are mainly situated within the semi-arid region and isolated from the Coastal Atlantic Forest by the surrounding dry vegetation of the caatinga domain. This paper presents a floristic survey of a semideciduous forest fragment at Serra da Fazenda Retiro (SFR), Feira de Santana, Bahia State, in order to assess its phytogeographical relationships in comparison to caatinga vegetation and Atlantic Forest. The survey identified 173 species belonging to 143 genera and 59 families. Myrtaceae presented the highest species number (15 spp.), followed by Euphorbiaceae (13), Leguminosae (12), Malvaceae (7), Orchidaceae (7), and Rubiaceae (7). Additionally, three new species of the genera Neomarica (Iridaceae), Pseudobombax (Malvaceae), and Solanum (Solanaceae) were sampled. In spite of the studied area being located within the circumscription of the Caatinga Biome, analysis of similarity (UPGMA) and of the SFR species composition showed that it is more floristically related to semideciduous forest of the Atlantic Forest domain rather than to caatinga vegetation.

-Tetragonisca angustula is a stingless bee species widely distributed in Brazil. Past studies have shown a rich native flora supplying this meliponine with pollen and nectar. The aim of this study was to compare the food provisions of T. angustula in two areas in the Lower Amazon mesoregion in the state of Pará and two areas of caatinga vegetation in the state of Bahia, Brazil. We used a published data set of 57 samples of honey and 46 samples of pollen stored in colonies of T. angustula . The honeys from the Lower Amazon and from the caatinga displayed 23 and 16 pollen types with frequency higher than >10 %, respectively, with emphasis on the families Fabaceae, Solanaceae, and Urticaceae. In the pollen stored samples, 18 and 11 pollen types were found, respectively. Cluster analyses (Dice similarity) performed with these published pollen spectra of the honeys grouped the samples from each geographic region with higher similarity than the analyses performed with the pollen spectra of the stored pollen.cluster analysis / Dice similarity / entomopalynology / honey / melissopalynology / pollen stored / stingless bees