Inventory, reward value and diversity of Apis mellifera nectariferous and polleniferous forage in Eastern Mau forest, Kenya
Publication Date
2019Author
Onyango, P., Nyunja, R., Sikolia, S.F. and Opande, G.,
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract/ Overview
The study was conducted in Eastern Mau is one of the East Mau forest is an important watershed within the Mau Forest
Complex, feeding major rivers and streams that make up the hydrological systems of Lake Victoria and inland Lakes of Nakuru,
Baringo and Natron to document the bee flora and their respecetive reward value to compliment the participatory forest conservation
approaches incorporating the Ogieks who are predominant forest dwellers, and known for bee keeping skills, to aid in bee keeping
extension services and by extension forest conservation. Transects were made in three randomly selected strata according to
stratifiedrandom sampling procedures. The flowering plants were observed for their foraging value based on the Apis mellifera
foraging activities using appropriate determination techniques. The study has revealed a total of 86 plant speceis and 36 families
foraged by Apis mellifera. Cissus rotundiflora (Vitaceae), Trema orientalis (Ulmaceae), Maerua triphylla (Capparaceae), Aloe
secundiflora (Asphodelaceae), Tribulis terrestis (Zygophyllaceae) and Polyscias fulva (Araliaceae) Some of the bee plants are
reported for the first time in Eastern Mau. Trees formed 41.86%, Herbs (25.58%), Shrubs (23.25%), and climbers (9.3%) of the bee
forage. Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Acanthaceae, Myrtaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Graminae families contribute the majority of the bee
plants in Eastern Mau forest.
Collections
- Department of Botany [228]