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May 26, 2004
A Honey of a Question
A Honey of a Question: Fall Nectar Sources in East Tennessee
Katharine Sloop, 13, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Finalist, Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge, 2003
Project background: As a beekeeper, Katie discovered the topic for her science fair project at the Tennessee Honey Festival. She heard a talk about honey desensitizing one's allergies. The speaker explained that the pollen content of the honey was the key. Katie wanted to analyze the pollen content of honey to try to discover the nectar sources bees use for their fall honey crop.
Tactics and results: With the cooperation of some fellow beekeepers, Katie collected seven nectar samples from a three-county region in East Tennessee. She created a microscope slide of the pollen by diluting 10 grams of each nectar sample with water and using a centrifuge to isolate the pollen and drain the water. Then, Katie produced a reference collection of the plant specimens that were in bloom at the time the nectar samples were taken. She isolated the pollen from 23 floral specimens and created microscope slides of them. Finally, Katie compared the floral specimens with the pollen found in the nectar.
 | Fleabane aster. | Gary M. Stolz, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
Katie's conclusion was that the plant family Asteraceae (aster family) contributes the most to the East Tennessee fall honey crop.
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