Multi-omics Based Chemical Ecology of Philippine Forest Honey highlights endangered Pterocarpus indicus Willd. tree and important community-driven conservation efforts

Abstract

Abstract Cooperation among Filipino scientists, conservationists, and forest-based communities paved the way for the chemical ecology investigation of Apis breviligula Maa., Apis cerana Fabr., and Tetragonula biroi (Friese) in priority forest landscapes of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. The Philippine National Tree and unfortunately endangered Pterocarpus indicus Willd (loc. Narra) proved to be important, especially in Palaui Island where honey from A. cerana is close to being monofloral. Aside from P. indicus and its small molecule marker hypaphorine, caffeine was detected in Palaui honey beautifully reflecting the way of life of native Agtas who manage a small coffee plantation. The abundance of caffeine, however, is higher in stingless honey samples from Tanay, Rizal where Coffea trees have been extensively included in restoration activities over the past few decades. Our results imply the possibility of using honey as an ecological monitoring tool while generating baseline chemical information that reflects the state of Philippine forests. Furthermore, the identification of unique chemical components in forest honey can be further used in programs that assist indigenous communities in safeguarding the ownership and origin of forest honey sources.