Anthropogenic Disturbances on Plant Species Foraged by Stinging Honey Bees, Apis mellifera L., within Vegetation Types of Kipembawe Bee Reserve, Tanzania
Abstract
This publication focuses on the investigation of anthropogenic disturbances on plant species foraged by the stinging honey bee, Apis mellifera L., within vegetation types of Kipembawe Bee Reserve in Chunya District, Tanzania. A total of 67 concentric circular plots with a radius of 15 m were established at an interval of 1500 m. Within those plots, at a radius of 1 m, herbaceous plants were recorded for their botanical names. At 2 m, all shrubs were recorded, and at a radius of 15 m, all trees were recorded. Honey forage species were recorded through observation of honey bee movement and indigenous knowledge. Anthropogenic activities were recorded and assigned a score of the level of damage cover [1, 2, 3, 4, AND 5] within the plots. The score meant 1 = no disturbance; 2 = low disturbance; 3 =neutral/between low and high disturbance; 4 = very high disturbance, and 5 = extremely high. Key informants were consulted to collect the native’s knowledge. A total of 245 plant species were recorded, and of all those, the foraged plant species were 227, totalling 92.65%, while 17 of them (6.95%) were not known to be foraged. The nectar and pollen were collected from 164 plant species, which was equivalent to 66.9%, pollen (56) equivalent to 22.86%, and nectar (1) totalling 0.41%. The recorded anthropogenic disturbances of stinging honey bee foraged plant species were debarking, illegal settlement establishment, illegal cultivation (farming), and livestock grazing. Mean score of 3 implied high chances of falling into either low or high, depending on the natural resources management strategies in the future. Regular conservation education and awareness to the local community are needed, regular patrols, employees’ commitment, and an adequate budget for patrols play a vital role.
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