PLANT POLLEN AND ITS ROLE IN THE ECOSYSTEM: HONEY BEE – HUMAN (Review)

The article provides a comprehensive review of the biological significance of pollen as a vital resource for honeybees. Its role in feeding larvae, maintaining the physiological activity of worker bees and ensuring high egg laying of the uterus is revealed. The nutritional and biochemical value of pollen, its nutritional characteristics, and the dependence of its qualitative composition on botanical origin and environmental conditions are considered in detail. For honeybees, pollen is of key importance – it is a source of proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins necessary for larval development, immune defense and adult life. However, due to agrochemistry, reduction of honey and pollen fields, as well as climate change, the availability of high-quality pollen decreases, which weakens bee colonies and reduces the yield of entomophilic crops. Pollen-bearing plants perform not only a fodder, but also an ecological function, contributing to the maintenance of pollinators, restoration of flora and sustainability of agricultural systems. Climate change and urbanization threaten their diversity, so the priority should be to restore flower biotopes and create favorable conditions for pollinators. Organic farming and urban planning that takes into account the needs of bees are the way to sustainable development. The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the historical use of pollen (from ancient civilizations to modern science), while simultaneously reflecting its economic, biological and ecological significance. Current scientific directions of pollen research are outlined, in particular in the field of apitherapy, pharmacology, food safety, biomonitoring of the environment, as well as prospects for using pollen as a functional ingredient in the food industry. The impact of agricultural factors, pesticides, urbanization, and climate change on the pollen base is considered. The role of pollen as an indicator of the environment, paleobotanic resource and a key factor in the stabilization of agroecosystems through the support of pollinator populations is highlighted. Special attention is paid to the need to preserve and develop natural and cultivated pollen-bearing lands as the basis for the stable functioning of bee colonies and the preservation of biodiversity. The paper highlights the interdisciplinary nature of pollen research and justifies the need for further systematic research in this area.