Data from: Land-use effects on melliferous woody flora in Sudanian agroforestry parkland and protected area of West Africa
Data files
May 05, 2026 version files 303.49 KB
Abstract
Land-use intensification alters vegetation structure and composition, with potential consequences for pollinator-dependent ecosystems in tropical regions. However, the distribution and availability of melliferous woody flora across contrasting land use types in West Africa remain poorly studied. This study evaluated melliferous floristic composition and woody stand structure across the Sudanian agroforestry parkland (farmland and fallow land) and protected area in southwestern Burkina Faso. Ninety vegetation plots were surveyed, and flowering dynamics were monitored monthly over one year. A total of 48 melliferous woody species belonging to 16 families were recorded, dominated by Fabaceae, Combretaceae, and Sapotaceae. Species composition differed 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 use types. Indicator species analysis identified 19 significant melliferous species. Among these, Combretum glutinosum, Terminalia avicennioides, 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 areas maintained the highest melliferous tree densities and greater species evenness. Temporal patterns of flowering varied among land use types. The protected area ensured extended forage availability for a minimum of three months, with Mitragyna inermis notably flowering for up to five months. These results support integrated landscape management combining conservation of melliferous habitats with targeted enrichment of woody species to sustain pollination services and beekeeping productivity in West Africa.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.tb2rbp0hm
Description of the data and file structure
Diversity_species_structural_parameters.xlsx : Data on floristic diversity
Melliferous_plant_species_density_and_flowering_duration_across_land_use_types.xlsx : Data on bee foraging activity, and plant flowering periods
Diversity_species_structural_parameters
- Species: This variable provides the scientific name of melliferous woody species
- Families: This variable indicates melliferous woody species families
- Genus: This variable indicates melliferous woody species genera
- Number of months of flowering: This variable indicates the number of months during which the species flowers
- Total height: This variable indicates the total height of the species
- Surface area: This variable indicates the area of the plot expressed in m2
- Surface area (ha): This variable indicates the area of the plot expressed in ha
- Land use types: This variable indicates the land use types. There are three land use types (fallow land, farmland, and protected area)
- Diameter_Breast_height: This variable represents the diameter at breast height expressed in m
- Diameter_Breast_height_steam This variable represents the circumference expressed in cm
- Basal_area_individual_tree (g): This variable represents the cross-sectional area of a tree trunk measured at a height of 1.30 m aboveground level
- Basal_area(G): his variable represents the sum of the individual basal areas (g) of all trees with a dense canopy within a given area, expressed in m²/ha
Melliferous_plant_species_density_and_flowering_duration_across_land_use_types
- Species: This variable provides the scientific name of melliferous woody species
- Families: This variable indicates melliferous woody species families
- Genus: This variable indicates melliferous woody species genera
- Land use types: This variable indicates the land use types. There are three land use types (fallow land, farmland, and protected area)