Sains Malaysiana 41(9)(2012): 1057–1062

 

 

Importance of Carpenter Bee, Xylocopa varipuncta(Hymenoptera: Apidae) as Pollination Agent for Mangrove Community of Setiu Wetlands, Terengganu, Malaysia

(Kepentingan Lebah Tukang, Xylocopa varipuncta(Hymenoptera: Apidae) Sebagai Agen Pendebungaan untuk Komuniti Pokok Bakau di Tanah Bencah Setiu, Terengganu, Malaysia)

 

Wahizatul Afzan Azmi*, Roziah Ghazi & Nor Zalipah Mohamed

Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia

 

Received: 25 January 2012 / Accepted: 25 April 2012

 

ABSTRACT

A study on the importance of Xylocopa varipuncta (Hymenoptera: Apidae) as pollination agent was conducted at the Setiu Mangrove Forest, Terengganu from September to December 2010. The objective of this study was to identify the pollens collected by carpenter bees (X. varipuncta) in the mangrove community of Setiu Wetlands. A total of 35 types of pollens were collected from the body of X. varipuncta and only 10 types of the pollens were successfully identified. The identified pollens were of Avicennia alba, Lumnitzera racemosa, Sonneratia caseolaris, S. ovata and Rhizophora apiculata from exclusive mangroves, while Suregada multiflora, Melaleuca cajuputi, Derris trifoliata, Acacia auriculiformis and Hibiscus tiliaceus were from non-exclusive mangroves. Melaleuca cajuputi was the highest number of pollen carried by X. varipuncta. This study showed that X. varipuncta is an important pollen carrier in the mangrove community of Setiu Wetlands, Terengganu.

 

Keywords: Mangroves; pollination agent; Setiu Wetlands; Xylocopa varipuncta

 

ABSTRAK

Satu kajian tentang kepentinganXylocopa varipuncta (Hymenoptera: Apidae) sebagai agen pendebungaan telah dijalankan di hutan paya bakau Setiu, Terengganu dari September hingga Disember 2010. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk mengenal pasti debunga yang dibawa oleh X. varipunctadi komuniti pokok bakau Tanah Bencah Setiu, Terengganu. Sejumlah 35 jenis debunga telah dikutip daripada badan X. varipunctadan hanya 10 jenis dapat dikenal pasti. Debunga yang dikenal pasti adalahAvicennia alba, Lumnitzera racemosa, Sonneratia caseolaris, S. ovata dan Rhizophora apiculata daripada pokok bakau eksklusif, sementara Suregada multiflora, Melaleuca cajuputi, Derris trifoliata, Acacia auriculiformis danHibiscus tiliaceus adalah daripada pokok bakau bukan eksklusif. DebungaMelaleuca cajuputi adalah yang tertinggi dibawa olehX. varipuncta. Kajian ini telah menunjukkan bahawa X. varipunctaadalah pembawa debunga yang penting bagi pokok bakau di Tanah Bencah Setiu, Terengganu.

 

Kata kunci: Agen pendebungaan; bakau; Tanah Bencah Setiu; Xylocopa varipuncta

 

REFERENCES

 

Azuma, H., Toyota, M., Asakawa, Y., Takaso, T. & Tobe, H. 2002. Floral scent chemistry of mangrove plants. Journal Plant Respiration 115: 47-53.

Barbier, M. 1970. Chemistry and biochemistry of pollen. Progressive Phytochemistry2: 1-34.

Beekman, M. & Ratnieks, F.L.W. 2000. Long-range foraging by the honey-bee. Apis melliferaL, Functional Ecology 14: 490-496.

Bestmann, H.J., Winkler, L. & Helversen, O. 1997. Headspace analysis of volatile flower scent constituents of bat-pollinated plants. Phytochemistry 46: 1169-1172.

Bordignon, M.O. 2006. Diet of the Fishing Bat Noctilio leporinus(Linnaeus) (Mammalia, Chiroptera) in a Mangrove Area of Southern Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia23: 256-260.

Clarke, P.J. & Myerscough, P.J. 1991. Floral biology and reproductive phenology of Avicennia marina in south-eastern Australia. Australia Journal of Botany 39: 283-293.

Daniel, M.A. 2008. Mangrove Forest: resilience, protection from tsunamis and responses to global climate change. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf science, Australian Institute of Marine Science 76: 1-13.

Dorothy, H. 1952. The Pollen Loads of the Honeybee. London: Bee Research Association Limited.

Fleming, T.H., Geiselman, C. & Kress W.J. 2009. The evolution of bat pollination: a phylogenetic perspective. Annals of Botany 104: 1017-1043

Knudsen, J.T. & Tollsten, L. 1995. Floral scent in bat-pollinated plants: a case of convergent evolution. Botany Journal Linnean Society 119: 45-57.

Lowenfeld, R. & Klekowski, E.J. 1992. Mangrove genetics. I. Mating system and mutation rates of Rhizophora mangle in Florida and San Salvador Island, Bahamas. International Journal of Plant Science 153: 394-399.

McCune, B. & Mefford, M.J. 2006. PC-ORD. Multivariate Analysis of Ecological Data. Version 5.13. MjM Software, Gleneden Beach, Oregon, U.S.A.

Milne, M.L. & Milne. 2000. National Audubon Society: Field Guide to Insects and Spiders. New York, Canada: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

Saberioon, M.M., Mardan, M., Nordin, L. Mohd Sood, A. & Gholizaeh, A. 2009. Fusion SPOT-5 & Radarsat-1 Images for Mapping Major Bee Plants in Marang District, Malaysia. European Journal of Scientific Research 38(3): 465.

Sammataro, D. & Avitabile, A. 1998. The Beekeeper’s Handbook. 3rd edition. Ithaca, New York, USA: Comstock Publishing Associates.

SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) 2008. SPSS 16.0 for Windows. 16.0 edn. SPSS Inc.: Chicago, Illinois.

Tamblyn, A., Turner, C. & Raines, C. 2006. Malaysia Tropical Forest Conservation Project Report of the Setiu Wetlands Phase A collaborative project between the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Malaysia (PERHILITAN) and Coral Cay Conservation. London: Coral Cay Conservation Ltd.

Tomlinson, P.B. 1986. The Botany of Mangroves. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Tomlinson, P.B., Bunt, J.S., Primack, R.B. & Duke, N.C. 1978. Lumnitzera rosea(Combretaceae): its status and floral morphology. Journal Arnold Arboretum 59: 342-35.

Yao, Y.F., Bera, S., Wang, Y.F. & Li, C.S. 2006. Nectar and pollen sources for honeybee (Apis cerana ceranaFabr.) in Qinglan mangrove area, Hainan Island, China. Journal Integrative Plant Biology 48(11): 1266-1273.

 

*Corresponding author; email: wahizatul@umt.edu.my