Plant Diversity and Honeybees’ Foraging Preferences: An Implication for Honeybees’ Conservation

Abstract

Identification of honeybees’ preferred plant species is paramount for sustainable conservation, especially when honeybees are reported to be declining globally. The study assessed plant diversity in potential beekeeping areas in Northern Tanzania and determined the foraging preferences of honeybees across two rainy seasons of 2021/2022. We established quadrats of 5 x 5m (shrubs and forbs) nested with 1x1 m (grasses) at each of the four transects of 5 km distance to assess plant diversity and identify the most preferred plants in two study areas. The dominant plant families were Poaceae, Malvaceae, Commelinaceae, Acanthaceae, Amaranthaceae, Polygonaceae, Asteraceae, and Lamiaceae. There was a significant difference in plant diversity between short and long rain seasons in both study areas (t = 2.60, p = 0.01, and t = 2.27, p= 0.03). Grewia bicolor, Terminalia brownii, Ziziphus mucronata, Combretum schumannii, and Cordia monoica were the most visited plants by 2761, 2528, 1966, 1163, and 662 visits, respectively, during the short rain season, while Acacia mellifera, Hoslundia opposita, Ocimum bacilicum and Acalypha fruticosa were the most visited plant species by 1638, 788, 340, and 38 visits, respectively, during the long raing season. This study has highlighted important information on honeybees’ foraging preferences and their diversity that shades a way for sustainable honeybees’ conservation in the area and elsewhere. We recommend further identification and re-planting of honeybees’ forages; awareness campaign to enlighten local people in beekeeping potential areas on the impact of activities that reduce plant diversity, negatively affecting honeybees.