Bee species composition, richness, diversity and distribution along elevation and Temperature Gradients in Mkingu Forest Nature Reserve Tanzania
Résumé
Bee species are performing a crucial role in ecosystem services that support human well-being and planet’s life support system. Complex interactions of elevation and other environmental variables like temperature affect the population of bee species in the Mkingu Forest Nature Reserve (MFNR). There is however a limited research and knowledge on the influence of environmental gradients especially elevation and temperature on bee species composition in Forest Nature Reserves in eastern Tanzania, to enable the conservation of bees and their important functions in forest ecosystem dynamics. The aim of this study is to assess bee species composition richness and diversity along elevation and temperature gradients in the MFNR. Bee species were collected in elevation strata across high, middle, and low elevations. Pan traps and sweep nets were used for data collection across different locations/plots established in elevation bands in the MFNR. Temperature was recorded at each sampling point using the Thermochron iButton data logger (DS1921G; ± 0.50C resolution; Maximum Integrated Products, USA) mounted 2 meters above the ground on each sampling point, continuously monitoring temperature at 60 minutes’ interval for 3 months. The Mean Annual Temperature was calculated as the average of all recorded values. Data were organized in Microsoft Excel and analyzed by R software version (2024.09.0+375). The study collected 1,125 bee individuals identified into 53 bee species, belonging to 23 genera and 3 families. There was a differential bee species richness along the elevation gradient with high elevations having higher species richness (46 bee species), followed by the middle elevation (32 bee species). The lower elevations had the lowest bee species richness (20). Further the there was a higher bee species diversity in the higher elevation (Shannon Weiner Diversity Index 3.371) followed by the middle elevation (Shannon Wiener Index of 2.623). The lower elevations had the lowest diversity of bee species with Shannon-Wiener Index of 2.59. Both elevation and temperature had a significant influence on bee species richness, with elevation (b=0.133, p<0.000) being more significant than temperature (b=0.064, P=0.030). Therefore, the study has shown richness and diversity also relationship between elevation in Mkingu Nature Forest Reserve. With higher species richness and diversity observed at higher elevations, it is evident that these areas are crucial for maintaining bee species
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