Bee diversity in agroforestry parklands and fruit orchards dominated by shea, néré, mango and cashew trees
Paper Details
Bee diversity in agroforestry parklands and fruit orchards dominated by shea, néré, mango and cashew trees
Abstract
This study analyses the diversity and composition of bee communities across different agroecosystems in northern Côte d’Ivoire, including shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) and néré (Parkia biglobosa) parklands, as well as mango (Mangifera indica) and cashew (Anacardium occidentale) orchards. The objective was to compare bee species richness, diversity, and similarity across these habitat types. Field surveys identified 30 bee species belonging to 22 genera and four families: Apidae, Halictidae, Megachilidae, and Colletidae. Apidae was the most diverse family across all environments. Parklands exhibited higher species richness (25 species) than orchards (15 species), with a notable dominance in néré parklands (21 species). However, the Shannon diversity index and evenness were higher in orchards (H’ = 1.835; E = 0.69) than in parklands (H’ = 1.54; E = 0.50), indicating a more homogeneous distribution of individuals in orchards. Species composition analysis revealed low similarity between parklands and orchards (31%), reflecting distinct bee communities. Ten species were common to all habitats, while 15 were specific to parklands and five to orchards, indicating strong ecological specialization. These results are explained by the greater floral diversity and heterogeneous structure of agroforestry parklands, which promote higher species richness compared to homogeneous orchards. Thus, this study highlights the importance of traditional agroforestry systems for bee biodiversity conservation and underscores the potential negative effects of agricultural intensification on pollinator communities.
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