Abstract
Natural cavities in polyculture plantations are important for the conservation of honeybees. This study was aimed to determine the diversity, nest sizes, and fluctuations in the use of sites for nesting by Apis cerana Fabr. in polyculture plantations in two altitudes in West Sumatra. A census method was used to obtain the data variables in 10 plantations (five locations for each altitute). Polyculture plantations used as the study sites were dominated by coconut in lowland areas and coffee in highland areas. The results showed that nesting sites of Apis cerana were found amongst 18 species of plants belonging to 15 families (12 species in lowlands and seven species in highlands). Most of the nests were placed on Cocos nucifera (coconut) trees in lowland sites, and on Erythria variegata (dadap) in highland sites. Nests were also found to be located mostly in the cavities of trees with diameter 21-60 cm. Nest entrances were located at 228.31 cm above ground surface (ags) in highland and at 116.04 cm ags in lowlands. The nest entrances in highlands measured 12.21 by 3.73 cm (height and width), and in the lowlands 14.93 by 7.36 cm. The percentage of tree cavities used for nesting was statically higher in lowland (40.73%) compared to high land (17.86%), but it fluctuated very slightly in both high or lowland areas during observation. The percentage of trees with nests decreased in December and January but increased in February, with the same patterns found in both high and lowlands. Our research suggests that higher tree diversity in polyculture plantations promotes increased use by honeybees for nesting. Thus, the more tree diversity in polyculture plantations the better it could conserve natural honey bees populations.
Highlights
Plantations in West Sumatra are generally polycultures, covering an estimated 5.93% of the total land area of West Sumatra
Tree species used for nesting sites by A. cerana in polyculture plantations in both locations studied in West Sumatera consisted of 18 species belonging to 15 families; 12 tree species in the lowland and seven tree species in highland (Table 1)
Tree species diversity for nesting sites was higher in the lowlands (13 species) compared to the highlands (7 species)
Summary
Plantations in West Sumatra are generally polycultures, covering an estimated 5.93% of the total land area of West Sumatra. Polyculture crops in lowlands are dominated by commercial plants and fruits such as coconut, areca nut, chocolate, durian, fruit bearing nephelium trees (rambutan), and plumlike fruit (kedondong); while in the highlands crops are dominated by forest products and commercial crops such as coffee, cinnamon and surian (BPS 2012). From an ecological point of view, plantations alter natural landscape and alter established ecosystems. Bee species are highly affected by changes in ecosystems (SteffanDewenter 2003). Ecosystem change may have some detrimental effects on bees such as affecting nesting dynamics (Vaudo et al 2011), but on the other hand it may provide benefit for bees by providing increased food sources and nesting sites Phone: +62-751-7053731, Four species of cavity-nesting honey bees native to Indonesia: Apis cerana, A. koschevnikovi, A
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
