Bee Products: A Representation of Biodiversity, Sustainability, and Health

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Durazzo, A (Author) Other; Lucarini, M (Author) Other; Plutino, M (Author) Other; Lucini, L (Author) Other; Aromolo, R (Author) Other; Martinelli, E (Author) Other; Souto, EB (Author) Other; Santini, A (Author) Other; Pignatti, G (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Life

Vol. 23

Final page: 970

ISSN: 0024-3019

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00V-FKS

DOI: 10.3390/life11090970

Abstract (EN): Biodiversity strengthens the productivity of any ecosystem (agricultural land, forest, lake, etc.). The loss of biodiversity contributes to food and energy insecurity; increases vulnerability to natural disasters, such as floods or tropical storms; and decreases the quality of both life and health. Wild and managed bees play a key role in maintaining the biodiversity and in the recovery and restoration of degraded habitats. The novelty character of this perspective is to give an updated representation of bee products' biodiversity, sustainability, and health relationship. The role of bees as bioindicators, their importance in the conservation of biodiversity, their ecosystem services, and the variety of the bee products are described herein. An overview of the main components of bee products, their biological potentials, and health is highlighted and detailed as follows: (i) nutritional value of bee products, (ii) bioactive profile of bee products and the related beneficial properties; (iii) focus on honey and health through a literature quantitative analysis, and (iv) bee products explored through databases. Moreover, as an example of the interconnection between health, biodiversity, and sustainability, a case study, namely the "Cellulose Park", realized in Rome (Italy), is presented here. This case study highlights how bee activities can be used to assess and track changes in the quality of agricultural ecosystems-hive products could be valid indicators of the quality and health of the surrounding environment, as well as the changes induced by the biotic and abiotic factors that impact the sustainability of agricultural production and biodiversity conservation in peri-urban areas.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 32