Land-Use Effects on Melliferous Woody Flora in SudanianAgroforestry Parkland and Protected Area of West Africa
- Ecology and Evolution , 16 (4) : 1-7
Résumé
Land-use intensification alters vegetation structure and composition, with potential consequences for pollinator-dependent eco-systems in tropical regions. However, the distribution and availability of melliferous woody flora across contrasting land usetypes in West Africa remain poorly studied. This study evaluated melliferous floristic composition and woody stand structureacross sudanian agroforestry parkland (farmland and fallow land) and protected area in southwestern Burkina Faso. Ninetyvegetation plots were surveyed, and flowering dynamics were monitored monthly over 1 year. A total of 48 melliferous woodyspecies belonging to 16 families were recorded, dominated by Fabaceae, Combretaceae, and Sapotaceae. Species compositiondiffered significantly among land use types. Fallow land and protected area supported the highest melliferous species richness,whereas farmland exhibited reduced richness and density but larger individual trees. Vitellaria paradoxa dominated all land usetypes. Indicator species analysis identified 19 significant melliferous species. Among these, Combretum glutinosum, Terminaliaavicennioides, and Terminalia leiocarpa were the principal indicator species associated with both fallow land and protected area,whereas no species was identified as specific to farmland. Protected area maintained the highest melliferous tree densities andgreater species evenness. Temporal patterns of flowering varied among land use types. The protected area ensured extended for-age availability for a minimum of 3 months, with Mitragyna inermis notably flowering for up to 5 months. These results supportintegrated landscape management combining conservation of melliferous habitats with targeted enrichment of woody species tosustain pollination services and beekeeping productivity in West Africa.
Mots-clés
agroforestry systems, Apis mellifera (honeybee) foraging, biodiversity conservation, Burkina Faso, floral resource availability, sustainablemanagement