Journal of Rangeland

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Due to the role of interaction between pollinator such as bees and plants in sustainability of ecosystems, management plans should be directed toward developing plants with bee attraction. In this study, vegetation was sampled within 180 plots on roadsides (asphalt and dirt roads) and within specific distances in semi-arid Sarbijan rangelands. As analysis showed forty-six species were found to be attractive, with 27% in excellent class, 31% in the good class, 24% in the middle class, and 18% in the poor class. In terms of nutrition source, 71 percent of them are important for bee pollen and nectar, 20 percent for nectar production, and 9 percent for pollen production. Examination of species diversity in different classes of bee attraction showed that most of the diversity belonged to excellent and good classes on the margins of the asphalt and dirt roads; although middle class was higher on the areas far from roads. The vegetation composition was altered along the roads so that the bushes were significantly reduced and the herbs significantly increased at roadside (p <0.05). Herbs were more successful than bushes in attracting bees, but some species such as Alhaji and Peganum are invasive species that threaten native species. In general, roads particularly asphalt roads, are suitable areas for the development of honey bee plants and can be considered for beekeeping use in the area in the short term.

Keywords: Pollination, Honey Bees, Semi-arid ecosystem, Asphalt road.

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