Chilean apicultural production is characterized by a great variety of honey types with a high percentage of nectar from native plant species. The proportion of nectar from native plants associated with the high endemism of the Chilean fl ora results in the production of honeys with special characteristics. Approximately 95% of the honey produced in Chile is exported in bulk without added value and accounts for 1% of the world honey trade. The differentiation of Chilean honeys on the basis of their particular biological origins represents one way to improve their competitive value on the international market. The application of a traceability system and the establishment of the Chilean standard (NCh2881.Of2005), which determines the botanical origin of a given honey by a melissopalynological test, represent two important advances toward differentiation. In order to determine the botanical and geographical characteristics of Chilean honey, 240 honey samples from two consecutive harvesting seasons were studied using the recently approved norm. The results demonstrate that there are two main areas of production. The fi rst area has a Mediterranean climate (Chile's Central zone, 30º to 36º S). The honeys produced there are endemic unifl oral and native multifl oral, and they represent diverse species. The second area transitions to a humid temperate climate (Central South zone of Chile 36º to 43º S), and the honey produced there includes native and non-native unifl oral and native multifl oral varieties with restricted botanical diversity.

RESUMENLa Estación Biológica Senda Darwin (EBSD) constituye un centro de investigación inmerso en el paisaje rural del norte de la Isla de Chiloé (42º S), donde fragmentos del bosque siempreverde original coexisten con praderas de uso ganadero, turberas de Sphagnum, matorrales sucesionales, plantaciones de Eucalyptus y otras formaciones de origen antropogénico. Desde 1994 hemos realizado estudios de largo plazo centrados en algunas especies de plantas (e.g., Pilgerodendron uviferum D. Don) y animales (e.g., Aphrastura spinicauda Gmelin, Dromiciops gliroides [Thomas]) catalogados como amenazados o escasamente conocidos y en ecosistemas nativos de importancia regional y global (e.g., turberas de Sphagnum, bosque Valdiviano y Nordpatagónico). Las investigaciones han considerado las respuestas de las especies y de los ecosistemas frente al cambio antropogénico del paisaje y cambio climático, así como los efectos de diferentes formas de manejo. Este escenario es semejante al de otras regiones de Chile y Latinoamérica lo que da generalidad a nuestros resultados y modelos. En este período, investigadores asociados a la EBSD han producido más de un centenar de publicaciones en revistas nacionales e internacionales y 30 tesis de pre y postgrado. Entendiendo el papel clave de los seres humanos en los procesos ecológicos de la zona rural, la EBSD ha desarrollado un programa de educación ecológica y vinculación del avance científico con la sociedad local y nacional. La integración de la EBSD a la naciente red de Sitios de Estudios Socio-Ecológicos de Largo Plazo en Chile consolidará y fortalecerá la investigación básica y aplicada que realizamos para proyectarla hacia la siguiente década. and animals (e.g., Aphrastura spinicauda, Dromiciops glirioides) that are considered threatened, poorly known or important for their ecological functions in local ecosystems, and on ecosystems of regional and global relevance (e.g., Sphagnum bogs, North Patagonian and Valdivian rain forests). Research has assessed the responses of species and ecosystems to anthropogenic land-use change, climate change, and the impact of management. During this period, more than 100 scientific publications in national and international journals, and 30 theses (graduate and undergraduate) have been produced by scientists and students associated with SDBS. Because of our understanding of the key role that humans play in ecological processes at this agricultural frontier, since the establishment of SDBS we have been committed to creative research on the communication of science to society and ecological education. The integration of SDBS to the nascent Chilean network of long-term socio-ecological research will consolidate and strengthen basic and applied research to project our work into the next decade.Key words: biodiversity, education, long-term socio-ecological research, private protected area, temperate rainforests. INTRODUCCIÓNLos bosques templados del sur de Sudamérica, distribuidos entre los 35° y 55º S en el margen occidental del continente, se carac...

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Quillaja saponaria Mol. (Quillajaceae) is one of the most important melliferous species in Chile, mainly as a source of monofl oral honey. Honey made by A. mellifera presents biological activity against pathogens and antioxidant capacity associated with the presence of phenolic compounds deriving from the nectar, as a result of bee honey foraging. The aim of this study was to identify and quantify the phenolic compounds from the fl oral nectar of Q. saponaria and the honey made in apiaries in the central zone, and compare the composition of the chromatographic profi les of nectar and honey to known phenolic compounds. The results obtained by HPLC-DAD (high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection) showed a similar profi le of phenolic compounds, in which gallic acid, myricetin, rutin, quercetin and naringenin were identifi ed. The phenolic compounds detected could be used as a reference for future studies for determining potential chemical markers of this honey, complementing the present identifi cation of honeys by determining their botanical origin. The identifi cation of bioindicators of the fl oral origins for honey of this species could provide added value to honey commercialization by certifying the botanical origin of their chemical features and biological attributes.

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