Influence of migratory and stationary beekeeping on honey bee wing morphology and propolis chemical composition

This study examines the effects of migratory and stationary beekeeping practices on the chemical composition of propolis and the morphological variations in honeybees from Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. The chemical composition of propolis (21 samples) was examined through HPLC, focusing on phenolic compounds, total tannin content, and FRAP antioxidant values. To assess honeybee morphology, geometric morphometric analysis of wings was conducted on 564 worker bee samples from 18 hives across 4 locations, revealing significant differences between migratory and stationary colonies (p < 0.0001). Honeybees from migratory colonies exhibited greater morphological diversity, likely reflecting exposure to a wider range of environmental conditions. The key phenolic compounds identified included caffeic acid, resveratrol, and quercetin. Migratory beekeeping resulted in significantly higher levels of caffeic acid, chrysin, and resveratrol (p ≤ 0.01) in propolis, while stationary beekeeping produced products with stronger antioxidant capacities, as indicated by higher FRAP values (2410.44 vs 2056.48 µmol TE/100 g, p < 0.05). Correlation analyses between phenolic compounds revealed strong positive relationships (r = 0.63–0.97, p < 0.01), indicating synergistic interactions that enhance the bioactivity of propolis. The results suggest that migratory beekeeping enhances the chemical richness of propolis, while stationary beekeeping promotes stronger antioxidant capacity, offering different benefits depending on the intended use of propolis. These findings indicate that beekeeping management practices can directly influence both propolis phenolic profiles and honey bee wing morphometry. Specifically, migratory practices should be adopted for propolis with enhanced bioactive compound concentrations, while stationary methods are preferable for maximizing antioxidant potential in pharmaceutical formulations.