DIVERSITY, STATUS AND THREATS TO STINGLESS BEES (APIDAE: MELIPONINI) OF IPEMBAMPAZI FOREST RESERVE, TABORA - TANZANIA ISSA HAMISI A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ECOSYSTEM SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT OF SOKOINE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE. MOROGORO, TANZANIA. 2016 ii ABSTRACT This study presents the stingless bees (Meliponini) of Ipembampazi Forest Reserve (IFR) in Sikonge, Tabora Tanzania. Stingless bees were systematically sampled from linear transects from which 80 plots of 20 x 40 m2 (0.08ha) were established. A total of 60 nests were found, representing two stingless bee species, Meliponula ferruginea Lepeletier and Hypotrigona ruspolii Magretti. The third species, Plebeina hildebrandti Friese was opportunistically collected at water hole. Relatively low species richness and nest density (9.53 nests ha-1) were found. Most species were unevenly distributed. Cluster spatial distribution was observed exhibited by one species of H. ruspolii. The most abundant stingless bee was Meliponula ferruginea (52%). Most species were found nesting in trees, except for P. hildebrandti which is reported to nest in the ground in termite mounds. Seven tree species were found hosting stingless bees. The primary tree species used by bees for nesting were Pericopsis angolensis (46.7%), Erythrophleum africanum (23.3%) and Julbernardia globiflora (18.3%). Various nesting patterns and architecture were also observed in stingless bees. The different patterns served as an adaptation to varying nest microclimates and response to environmental threats. Most of the threats recorded were mainly human induced. Forest fire (63%), honey hunting (26%) and logging for timber (10%) were the dominant threats to stingless bees in IFR. Together with other factors, may collectively negatively contributed to the low species diversity and nests abundances observed. It was concluded that, more studies on stingless bees is required. The effects due to climate change on stingless bees should not be overlooked. The findings provide important information for the future development of Meliponiculture industry and conservation of the stingless bees of Tanzania. iii DECLARATION I, ISSA HAMISI do hereby declare to the Senate of the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) that this dissertation is my own original work and that it has never been submitted to any other University for a degree award. …………………………………….. .……………………………… Issa Hamisi Date ( MSc.ECOSY. SC. and MGT. ) The above declaration is confirmed by: …………………………. …………………………….. Prof. R.P.C. Temu Date (Supervisor) iv COPYRIGHT No part of this dissertation may be produced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without written permission of the author or Sokoine University of Agriculture in that behalf. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am grateful to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT) for sponsoring this research, without which, this study would have not been conducted. My deepest thanks go to Prof. R.P.C.Temu, my supervisor, not only for his tireless supervision, constructive comments, and encouragement, but also in guiding me successfully to produce this dissertation. I recognize the support from all workers of Sikonge District Council for their valuable cooperation. I extend my thanks to Ms. Serafina Nicola (Assistant Beekeeping Officer) for the coordination and tireless help during data collection. My very special thanks are due to Dr. Connal Eardley of Agricultural Research Council (ARC) in Queenswood, Pretoria, South Africa for his help in identifying the stingless bee specimens for this study. I acknowledge with sincere regards the honey hunters who shared their knowledge and skills in searching nests of stingless bees during data collection. Finally, to all people who have in different ways contributed towards the accomplishment of this work, I say thank you. vi DEDICATION To all people who in one way or another have morally or financially supported the attainment of this study. My very special lovely dedication goes to my parents; my father Mr. Omary H. Mpinga and my mother Tatu Mbuga, my young sisters and brothers, my wife Salma Awadh, my son Nabil Issa Mpinga and my daughter Nasra Issa Mpinga for their prayers and moral support during the whole period of my masters study. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................... ii DECLARATION ...................................................................................................... iii COPYRIGHT ........................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................... v DEDICATION .......................................................................................................... vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................ vii LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................... xi LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................ xii LIST OF PLATES.................................................................................................. xiii LIST OF APPENDICES........................................................................................ xiv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS .............................................. xv CHAPTER ONE........................................................................................................ 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background Information ....................................................................................... 1 1.2 Problem statement and justification ...................................................................... 3 1.3 Objectives .............................................................................................................. 4 1.3.1 General objective ............................................................................................ 4 1.3.2 Specific objectives .......................................................................................... 4 CHAPTER TWO ...................................................................................................... 5 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................... 5 viii 2.1 An overview of the stingless bees classification ................................................... 5 2.2 Stingless bee species diversity .............................................................................. 5 2.3 Stingless bee species distribution and abundances ............................................... 6 2.4 Stingless bees nesting behaviour ........................................................................... 9 2.4.1 Nest architecture of stingless bees .................................................................. 9 2.4.2 Nesting substrates used by stingless bees ..................................................... 11 2.5 Threats to stingless bees ...................................................................................... 12 CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................ 15 3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS ..................................................................... 15 3.1 Description of the study area............................................................................... 15 3.1.1 Location ........................................................................................................ 15 3.1.2 Topography and climate of the study area ................................................... 16 3.1.3 Vegetation types ........................................................................................... 16 3.1.4 Human activities ........................................................................................... 16 3.1.5 Research materials and equipment used during the study ............................ 17 3.2 Methods ............................................................................................................... 17 3.2.1 Sampling design ........................................................................................... 17 3.2.2 Systematic sampling ..................................................................................... 18 3.2.3 Data collection methods ............................................................................... 18 3.2.3.1 Stingless bee species diversity ............................................................... 19 3.2.3.2 Stingless bee species distribution and abundances ................................ 19 3.2.3.3 Stingless bees nesting behaviour ........................................................... 20 3.2.3.4 Threats to stingless bees ........................................................................ 20 ix 3.2.4 Data analysis ................................................................................................. 20 3.2.4.1 Stingless bee species .............................................................................. 20 3.2.4.2 Species distribution patterns .................................................................