Ratios of Stable Isotopes 13C/12C and 15N/14N in Samples of Dead Honey Bees and Beekeeping Products

The isotopic composition of carbon (delta C-13) and nitrogen (delta N-15) in samples of dead honey bees and beekeeping products (honey, pollen load, wax, propolis) purchased both at honey fairs and directly at apiaries in the Tomsk oblast and, for comparison, in the Altai krai, Krasnodar krai, and Kaluga and Kemerovo oblasts, was analyzed. The goal of the study was to identify the indicator ability of the ratios of stable isotopes of carbon C-13/C-12 and nitrogen N-15/N-14 in monitoring the ecological state of territories covering the habitat of honey bees and controlling food products (honey, pollen load). Isotope analysis was performed by isotope mass spectrometry using a DELTA V Advantage isotope mass spectrometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Germany).