Preliminary survey of insect pollinator interaction with native and non-native plant species in Nyandungu Urban Wetland Eco-Tourism Park, Rwanda

Wetlands are among the most productive yet threatened ecosystems worldwide, whereas insects play a crucial role in the dynamics of wetland plants. A study on the interactions between insect pollinators and plant species was conducted in the Nyandungu Urban Wetland Eco-Tourism Park in Rwanda. The objectives were to assess types of insect pollinators and their abundance between native and non-native plant species, and examine the influence of flower color on insect pollinator preferences. Field sampling was conducted in April 2024 using both line transects and opportunistic methods. Plant species visitation events and flower color preferences of insect pollinators were recorded to compare pollinator preferences between native and non-native plant species. Recorded insect pollinators were classified into five groups, corresponding to four insect orders: bees (Hymenoptera), butterflies (Lepidoptera), flies (Diptera), wasps (Hymenoptera), and beetles (Coleoptera). Pollinator insects visited more non-native (56.48%) than native plant species (43.52%), but the statistical difference was not significant (t = 2.776, df = 4, p = 0.16). However, pollinators’ flower color preferences differed significantly (F = 3.475, df = 4, p = 0.014), with yellow being the most preferred color. Despite the short sampling period, this first study in Nyandungu Urban Wetland should serve as a baseline for future studies. A seasonal variation study is needed to yield more information on the ecology of pollinator-plant interactions at the Wetland. Similar studies should be extended to other Wetlands of Rwanda and the region.