Compounds extracted from heads of African stingless bees (Hypotrigona species) as a prospective taxonomic tool

dc.contributor.authorNdungu, Nelly N.
dc.contributor.authorKiatoko, N.
dc.contributor.authorMasiga, Daniel K.
dc.contributor.authorRaina, Suresh K.
dc.contributor.authorPirk, Christian Walter Werner
dc.contributor.authorYusuf, Abdullahi Ahmed
dc.date.accessioned2018-05-03T12:12:25Z
dc.date.issued2018-04
dc.description.abstractStingless bees are important pollinators of plants, and also producers of honey. Species within the African stingless bee genus Hypotrigona are difficult to differentiate due to morphological similarities. Chemical profiles of whole head extracts from workers of three Hypotrigona species: H. gribodoi, H. araujoi and H. ruspolii were studied by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. A total of 50 components belonging to six chemical classes: hydrocarbons, aldehydes, alcohols, terpenoids, steroids and fatty acids were identified. Twenty-nine compounds were found in H. araujoi, 26 in H. gribodoi and 33 in H. ruspolii head extracts. Hydrocarbons, alcohols and fatty acids were the major classes, whilst steroids and terpenoids were minor. Aldehydes were found only in H. ruspolii while terpenoids were only present in extracts of H. gribodoi and H. araujoi. Eight chemical compounds were specific to H. araujoi, six to H. gribodoi and nine to H. ruspolii, showing both qualitative and quantitative differences. Workers were successfully grouped into their respective species using their chemical profiles. This study shows that head extracts can be used as a reliable taxonomic tool for identifying and differentiating Hypotrigona species.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentZoology and Entomologyen_ZA
dc.description.embargo2019-04-01
dc.description.librarianhj2018en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipThe European Union (EU) (Grant Contract No. DCI-FOOD/2013/313-659: African Reference Laboratory (with satellite stations) for the Management of Pollination Bee Diseases and Pests for Food Security); the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) Research Career Advancement Fellowship (Grant no: 91419) to AAY; NRF Incentive Funding for Rated Researchers to CWWP and AAY; UK Aid from the UK Government; Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida); the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Kenyan Government. The first author was supported by a German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) In-Region Postgraduate Scholarship.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttps://link.springer.com/journal/49en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationNdungu, N.N., Kiatoko, N., Masiga, D.K. et al. Compounds extracted from heads of African stingless bees (Hypotrigona species) as a prospective taxonomic tool. Chemoecology (2018) 28: 51-60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00049-018-0256-6.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn0937-7409 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1423-0445 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1007/s00049-018-0256-6
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/64768
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherSpringeren_ZA
dc.rights© Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2018. The original publication is available at : https://link.springer.com/journal/49.en_ZA
dc.subjectSpeciationen_ZA
dc.subjectHead secretionsen_ZA
dc.subjectAfrican stingless beesen_ZA
dc.subjectHypotrigona speciesen_ZA
dc.subjectChemical profileen_ZA
dc.titleCompounds extracted from heads of African stingless bees (Hypotrigona species) as a prospective taxonomic toolen_ZA
dc.typePostprint Articleen_ZA

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