Effects Of Land Use On Hymenoptera Diversity: A Case Study In Southern Unguja

ABSTRACT

Natural forest lost at high rate year after year. Most of the area are cleared and

transformed to agricultural land, which influences changes in hymenopterans

diversity. Therefore, understanding the hymenopterans diversity in various land use

forms of agriculture are of vital importance to guide in conservation approaches.

This study analyzed the effects of land use in hymenopterans diversity in Unguja

Island – Zanzibar. Hymenopterans were sampled in five land-use forms between

January to March 2013. In each study a site, four linear transects of 50m long were

established. In each transect in three land use hymenopterans species were captured

by three pan traps of different colour (blue, yellow and white) and nets. A total of

734 hymenopterans consisting of 60 species were sampled within five land-use

forms. Home garden showed higher species richness compared to mixed farming,

JCBNP, monoculture and mangrove. Using Kruskal Wallis test species richness and

species diversity differ significantly among different land-use forms (p < 0.1). There

was no different in efficiency between nets and pan traps in assessing hymenopterans

diversity (p > 0.1). Also there was no significance difference in hymenopterans

species richness and diversity captured by blue, yellow and white pan traps. The

study concluded that home garden and mixed farming attract mostly hymenopterans

species that are very common in natural forest. This study recommended that

conservations of hymenopterans species can be enhanced by establishment of home

garden and mixed crops farming.

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