INSECT DIVERSITY OF ACACIA CANOPIES IN MKOMAZI GAME RESERVE, NORTHEAST TANZANIA

Here we analyse one of the largest insect samples taken so far from a tropical savannah habitat. We used insecticidal mist blowing to spray the canopy of 31 trees of six Acacia species, and obtained 41 099 inse cts of 492 recognisable taxonomic units (RTUs). In most cases, there w ere significant differences between individual trees between and withi n tree species with regard to their insect community. After we perform ed a standardisation procedure because of unequal sample size, cluster analysis showed that most tree species formed more or less distinct c lusters, indicating a moderate level of insect host specificity. Consi dered by tree localities, clear clusters were visible only if one tree species was sampled. This finding suggests that there is no significa nt overlap in the insect communities between tree species at a local s cale. We carried out a multivariate analysis of insect diversity using four different diversity measurements. Results differed depending on the measurement used and no significant association of simple tree cha racteristics, such as height, with insect diversity was detectable. In stead, time of the day and ant biomass seem to be of greater importanc e. These results emphasise the importance of using different diversity measurements to evaluate habitats with regard to their conservation v alue.