Pollen analysis of geopropolis of Melipona (Melikerria) fasciculata Smith, 1854 (Meliponini, Apidae, Hymenoptera) in areas of Restinga, Cerrado and flooded fields in the state of MaranhAo, Brazil

The pollen spectra of 16 samples of geopropolis of Melipona fasciculata from three phytogeographic regions in MaranhAo, Brazil, have been analysed. Samples GP1 to GP4 were collected in Palmeirandia located in the region of periodic flooded fields (lowlands of the northern micro-region of MaranhAo). Samples GP5 to GP8 were collected in Barreirinhas (Cerrado vegetation, northern micro-region of MaranhAo). Samples GP9 to GP16 were collected in Belagua (Restinga vegetation, eastern micro-region of MaranhAo). Thirty-eight pollen types were identified, distributed in 26 families and 29 genera. The most frequent pollen types were Mimosa pudica, Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, Chamaecrista and Solanum. Eucalyptus, Psidium, Combretum/Melastomataceae, Arecaceae, Mauritia and Ardisia pollen types were present in variable amounts (accessory pollen' and/or isolated pollen'). Alternanthera, Amaranthaceae, Desmodium, Dioclea and Dalbergia pollen types occurred with a lower percentage (occasional pollen'). The first two axes of the principal component analysis grouped 69% of the pollen variability of samples from three locations. Even though all three ecosystem samples were collected in the same month, they had different patterns of similarity. The qualitative and quantitative analyses of pollen types in geopropolis samples of Melipona fasciculata were phytogeographically valuable for characterising the samples and providing knowledge about the flora in the Brazilian state of MaranhAo.