Conditions and Forage Vegetation Environmental in Smallholder Stingless Bee (Meliponini) Beekeeping Systems of Riau Province, Indonesia

Abstract

Stingless beekeeping underpins pollination and rural livelihoods in tropical Indonesia, yet site-level ecological drivers remain underreported in Sumatra. We evaluated microclimate, soil pH, and forage vegetation at eight smallholder apiaries across four regencies in Riau, Indonesia. Using a cross-sectional design, air temperature, relative humidity (RH), light intensity, and wind speed were recorded during foraging hours with a thermohygrometer, lux meter, and anemometer; soil pH was measured in situ; vegetation was inventoried via plots/transects and diversity calculated with the Shannon-Wiener index. Conditions spanned 31-35 °C, 63-76% RH, 33,200-48,700 lux, 0-1.2 m s-1 wind, and pH 5.6-6.7, reflecting windows compatible with stingless-bee activity. Forage diversity was moderate (H′ = 1.629-2.697), dominated by multipurpose trees Artocarpus heterophyllus, Mangifera indica, Hevea brasiliensis providing nectar, pollen, and resin. Sites with richer nectar pollen flora (e.g., Batu Rijal, Umban Sari) showed stronger potential for meliponiculture development. These results indicate that maintaining staggered-flowering vegetation within agroforestry mosaics, alongside routine monitoring of microclimate and floral indicators, can support colony performance and sustain pollination services. The study supplies empirical, site-specific evidence to guide management that aligns biodiversity stewardship with smallholder economic outcomes in lowland tropical systems.