TY - JOUR TI - Diversité de la flore mellifère le long du gradient pluviométrique au Bénin AU - Balagueman, Ogoulonou Rodrigue AU - Detchi, Bruno Yéhowanes AU - Biaou, Samadori S Honoré AU - Kanlindogbe, Cyrille AU - Natta, Armand Kuyéma AB - Understanding the diversity of melliferous flora across environmental gradients is important in identifying suitable environments for beekeeping. This study evaluated countrywide melliferous flora diversity in Benin across the rainfall gradient so as to identify the most appropriate zone for beekeeping. A floristic inventory of bee flora was conducted around 17 apiaries distributed in the three main bioclimatic zones of Benin. We identified 478 melliferous species at the country scale, of which 135, 177 and 166 belonged respectively to the wet Guinean zone, the transition Guineo-Sudanian zone and dry Sudanian zone. The identified species belonged to 62 families of which the most represented were Leguminosae, Combretaceae, Rubiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Asteraceae and Poaceae. Species richness was significantly (z=2,371; p=0,018) higher in the transition Guineo-Sudanian zone than in the other two bioclimatic zones. Species with high melliferous value accounted for 15.27 % of the total richness and were more important in the dry zone. Species distribution followed South-North rainfall gradient implying higher diversity in toward the dry zone. We concluded that the dry part of the country is a suitable environment for beekeeping. Our findings are prerequisite information for beekeeping programs sustainability. DA - 2017/// PY - 2017 DP - Zotero SP - 9 LA - fr KW - ⛔ No DOI found ER -