The research will offer information on bees and the commencement of future actions on conservation of bees in Tanzania and the world at large.
In order to provide good pollination service at high rate, Bee needs a favorable environment and or area that is free from agricultural products such as pesticides, fertilizers also free from diseases and trampling which will provide a pollination service that is effective. In addition the environment should not be overly cost for bee diversity.
Increase in human population has led to the high demand for food; the high demand for food by human has led to the ongoing increase in farm size with specialization leading to the reduction of natural vegetation areas for food production.
If the agricultural areas will continue to be treated with pesticides and fertilizers, farmers will be wasting their time because the bee diversity will keep on declining and later on the pollination service will be poorly performed that will result to poor productivity of crops. Also bees suffering can lead to a total disappearance of bees hence lack pollination services completely.
Keywords: Agriculture, Diversity, Biodiversity, pollinators, Intensive
Table of Contents
1.0. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background information
1.2. Problem Statement and justification
1.3. Objectives
1.3.1. General objective
1.3.2. Specific objective
1.4. Hypothesis
2.0. METHODOLOGY
2.1 Study area description
2.1.1 Geographical Location
2.1.2 Climate
2.1.3 Vegetation
2.2. Sampling design and data collection
2.2.1 Sampling site
2.2.2 Sampling techniques
2.2.3. Methods of data collection
2.3. Data analysis and species identification
3.0 RESULTS
3.1. Identification of bee species
3.2. Abundance of bees in different agricultural intensity
3.3 Diversity of Bees in different agricultural intensity
4.0. DISCUSSION
4.1. Species identified in different agricultural intensity
4.2. Bees abundance in different agricultural intensity
4.3. Bees diversity in different agricultural intensity
4.4. Limitations of the study
5.0. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Research Objectives and Focus Areas
The primary goal of this study is to investigate the impact of agricultural intensification on bee diversity and abundance across three distinct land-use sites in the Kilimanjaro region, aiming to provide data that supports effective conservation strategies for pollinators in Tanzania.
- Comparison of bee species richness and abundance across different levels of agricultural intensity.
- Assessment of habitat quality, including floral resources and non-cultivated vegetation, on bee populations.
- Evaluation of agricultural practices, such as pesticide usage and monoculture farming, on pollinator survival.
- Development of recommendations for eco-friendly agricultural management to enhance bee conservation.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1. Species identified in different agricultural intensity
With respective of other agricultural intensity natural vegetation had a high number of species as also found by(Andelik, Infree, & Eeson, 2012) identified total of 16 bee species were identified namely Apis mellifera, Bronsapis spp, Xylocopa flavorufa, Xylocopa scioensis, Meliponula lendliana, Dactylurina schmidti, Plebeina hildebrandti, Xylocopa lugubris, Xylocopa caffra, Axestotrigona erythra, Ammobates auster, Hypotrigona ruspolii, Nothylaeus spp, Melliturga spp, Samba calcarata and Megachile rotundata. In Mweka village (Ursula) 12 species were observed 4 species less from natural vegetation which were Axestotrigona erythra, Hypotrigona ruspolii, Nothylaeus spp and Melliturga spp. And in highly intense agricultural area coffee plantation (Mawingo) only 4 species were observed that were Apis mellifera, Xylocopa flavorufa, Meliponula lendliana and Xylocopa caffra.
Difference in numbers of species observed in different agricultural intensity was deduced by others scholars (Zhang, Ricketts, Kremen, Carney, & Swinton, 2007) suggesting that bees species respond different with the vegetation (Morandin & Kremen, 2013) reported that bees species have some preferences on flowering plants and mostly they prefer natural flowering plants comparing to other ornamental and cultivated flowering plants as also observed by (Nicholls & Altieri, 2013). High number of bees identified in natural vegetation was accompanied by diversity of natural flowering plants found within area as stated by (Andelik et al., 2012), whereby in Mid intensive agriculture (Mweka village) 12 Bees species were identified because it also have some flowering plants that is from maize and beans which produces some inflorences which tend to attract Bee species(Nicholls & Altieri, 2013) unlike in Intensive agricultural area (Mawingo coffee plantation) where there was least number of Bees identified and this is because intensive agriculture is a monoculture type of farming where only one crop is cultivated hence resulting into a reduced number of flowering plants as supported by (Tuell, Fiedler, Landis, & Isaacs, 2008).
Summary of Chapters
1.0. INTRODUCTION: Covers the background of bee species globally and in Africa, highlights the decline of pollinator populations due to agricultural practices, and defines the problem statement regarding the lack of research in Tanzania.
2.0. METHODOLOGY: Details the study area characteristics in the Kilimanjaro region, describes the pan trap sampling design used, and explains the data analysis and species identification methods applied.
3.0 RESULTS: Presents the findings regarding species identification and the statistical analysis of bee abundance and diversity across natural, mid-intensive, and intensive agricultural land categories.
4.0. DISCUSSION: Interprets the findings by comparing observed species and abundance levels against existing scientific literature and identifies constraints encountered during the study.
5.0. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Concludes that agricultural intensification negatively impacts bee diversity and provides actionable advice for farmers to implement pollinator-friendly habitats.
Key Words
Agriculture, Diversity, Biodiversity, Pollinators, Intensive, Ecosystem, Habitat, Conservation, Bees, Species richness, Abundance, Tanzania, Kilimanjaro, Floral resources, Agroecosystems
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this scientific paper?
The paper examines the negative impact of agricultural intensification on bee diversity and abundance in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania, specifically comparing natural, mid-intensive, and intensive farming sites.
What are the primary themes discussed in the study?
The study focuses on bee species identification, the influence of land-use types on pollinator habitat quality, the role of flowering plants in supporting bee populations, and the consequences of intensive monoculture and chemical pesticide usage.
What is the main objective of the research?
The general objective is to determine the effect of agricultural intensity on bee diversity, with specific goals to identify bee species, measure their abundance, and evaluate diversity indices in different agricultural settings.
Which scientific methodology was utilized?
The researchers used a pan trap sampling method across systematically positioned quadrats and utilized the Shannon-Wiener index for calculating diversity, alongside One-way ANOVA for statistical testing.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers study site descriptions, detailed sampling techniques, raw result data for species abundance, and an extensive discussion on how floral resource availability dictates bee survival.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key terms include Agriculture, Diversity, Biodiversity, Pollinators, Intensive, Ecosystem, Habitat, and Conservation.
How did agricultural intensification specifically affect the Mawingo coffee plantation?
The study found that the Mawingo coffee plantation, characterized as an intensive monoculture area, supported the lowest bee diversity (only 4 species) and abundance due to high disturbance and lack of diverse flora.
What role does natural vegetation play compared to agricultural areas?
Natural vegetation acts as a critical refuge, providing high floral diversity and a stable, low-disturbance habitat that supports a much larger variety and number of bee species than cultivated lands.
Why are farmers encouraged to restore hedgerows in this study?
The author recommends maintaining or reinforcing hedgerows and weedy plants to provide essential nectar and pollen, which helps restore pollinator-friendly habitats within intensively managed agricultural fields.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Erick Swai (Autor:in), 2021, Effects of agriculture on bees diversity in Mawingo, Mweka and Kilimanjaro National Park, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1139045
