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Species richness and nest dispersion of some tropical meliponine bees (Apidae: Meliponinae) in six habitat types in the Kakamega forest, western Kenya

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 December 2012

Kiatoko Nkoba*
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), PO Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya Department of Zoological Sciences, Kenyatta University, PO Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Suresh Kumar Raina
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), PO Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Elluid Muli
Affiliation:
South Eastern University College (a constituent college of the University of Nairobi), PO Box 170-90200, Kitui, Kenya
Klaus Mithöfer
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), PO Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Jones Mueke
Affiliation:
Department of Zoological Sciences, Kenyatta University, PO Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
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Abstract

A study to determine the species richness and spatial distribution of five meliponine bee species in three different habitats in the Kakamega forest was undertaken for the first time. Two forest (indigenous and mixed indigenous) and two grassland (with Eucalyptus spp. trees and indigenous trees) types, along with homesteads (in the vicinity of mixed indigenous forest and indigenous forest, respectively), were surveyed. Line transect methods were used in the nest survey in each habitat. The highest number of species was recorded in the indigenous forest, while no nest was discovered in the grassland with Eucalyptus spp. trees. The mean number of nests per transect was higher in homesteads followed by the indigenous forest. The nesting pattern of almost all species nesting in the indigenous forest, mixed indigenous forest (Meliponula bocandei [Spinola]) and grassland with indigenous tree species (Meliponula ferruginea [Lepeletier] reddish brown) was dispersed. The nesting pattern of M. ferruginea (reddish brown) and Hypotrigona gribodoi (Magretti) changed from a dispersed and random pattern, respectively, to a clumped nesting pattern when nesting in homesteads. The degree of nest clustering was low for M. ferruginea (reddish brown) and high for H. gribodoi. Differences in average nearest-neighbour distance were observed within species nesting in a dispersed or clumped pattern. This study reveals that habitat type in the Kakamega forest influences the species richness and nesting pattern of the five stingless bee species.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2012

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