@article{article_294461, title={Seasonal Variation in Forage Plant Selection, Foraging Time, Duration and Preference of Apis mellifera adansonii in the Rainforest and Semi-savannah Ecosystems of Nigeria}, journal={Mellifera}, volume={16}, pages={1–12}, year={2016}, author={Akınwande, Kayode L. and Anıkwe, Joseph C. and Adeonıpekun, Peter A. and Okunrounmu, Tobiloba}, keywords={Polen toplama,çiçek tercihi,nektar,Apis mellifera adonsonii}, abstract={ The foraging behaviour such as plant selection, time, duration and floral preference of colonies of Apis mellifera adansonii were studied during the dry and wet seasons in 2012 -2014. Colony observations were made from 6:00 am - 7:30 am, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm and 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm during the period, meteorological data on sunset and sunrise, moonrise and moonset were collected for the time of observations of the foraging workers. All the time recorded for the start and end of foraging were local time for the study sites. The floral plant species distributed in 3 kilometer radius of the colony sites were sampled. Honey and pollen combs were also collected from all the experimental colonies for mellisopalynological investigations. There was a difference between the abundance of foraging plants in the savannah and rainforest zones in the tropics as indicated by Jacard’s (Cj ) and Sorenson’s (CS) similarity coefficient of 0.37 and 45.9% respectively. The bees average starting and ending times of foraging were 07:01 h and 18.20 h respectively and the average duration of foraging was 11:30 h per day. During the dry and wet seasons, the foraging time and duration was not significantly different (P < 0.05). Pollen analyses showed that the bees in the savannah ecosystem visited more flowers than those in the forest ecosystem; the former had a significantly higher pollen sum of 254 and 543 during dry and wet seasons respectively (P < 0.05). The colonies in both forest and savannah areas showed preference for Elaeis guineensis Jacq.(Arecaceae). Results from this study have given insights into the “bee plants” of the two ecosystems as well as providing information to bee keepers about the behaviour of bees for improved apiary management. }, number={2}, publisher={TÜRKİYE KALKINMA VAKFI}