Bee’s morphometrics and behavior in response to seasonal effects from ecoregions

Abstract

ABSTRACT. In the present study, we used morphological and behavioral analyses to assess the effects of seasonality and morphoclimatic patterns on the morphology, behavior, and distribution of 71 colonies of Africanized honey bees in 3 distinct ecoregions (Zona da Mata, Agreste, and Sertão) within the State of Sergipe, north-eastern Brazil. We found a high rate of gene flow among the studied colonies. However, there were pronounced morphological differences among localities and ecoregions, and body shape (r = 0.06239; P = 0.05) and size (P < 0.001) varied with altitude. Regional groups were separated by phenotypic plasticity, rather than genetic divergence. We also found a significant difference in the hygienic behavior of these populations between the dry and rainy seasons (P = 0.022; α = 0.05) and between ecoregions (P = 0.001; α = 0.05). The main modulator of hygienic behavior was the influence of temperature (ρ = 0.065; P = 0.471; α = 0.05) and altitude (ρ = -0.294; P = 0.001; α = 0.05) on rainfall (ρ = 0.274; P = 0.002; α = 0.05). This supports the hypothesis that environmental factors influence the expression of hygienic behavior trait. The influence of environmental factors on the morphology, behavior, and distribution of Africanized honey bees, together with the identified polyphenisms, indicate high genetic variability within these populations that can be exploited in future bee handling and breeding programs.

Can the Environment Influence Varroosis Infestation in Africanized Honey Bees in a Neotropical Region?

“…These honey bee ecotypes may be the explanation for the variation of Varroa infestation rates in the areas studied and in other countries, such as Mexico and Costa Rica, where Africanized honey bees are apparently less tolerant to this mite when compared to the Africanized honey bees in Brazil (Calderón et al 2010). Also, elements of climate, such as rainfall, can influence the hygienic behavior in Africanized honey bees (Sousa et al 2015) including grooming activity, thereby increasing mite mortality (Junkes et al 2007) and consequently reducing the infestation level. The low degree of overall correlation observed between temperature, rainfall, altitude, and Varroa infestation may be explained by the great variation of the environmental parameters and altitude between the 5 areas studied.…”

Influencias climáticas, regionales y cantidad de cría en el comportamiento higiénico de Apis mellifera

“…Dentro de los factores climáticos, la humedad relativa no tuvo correlación significativa con el comportamiento higiénico, pero se encontró una correlación positiva y significativa entre temperatura ambiental y remoción de cría muerta, lo que indica que a medida que aumenta la temperatura también aumenta la remoción de cría. En un estudio similar llevado a cabo en Brasil a distintas altitudes y con abejas africanizadas, también se encontró una correlación positiva entre temperatura y remoción de cría (Sousa et al, 2016). Por su parte Cheruiyot et al (2017) señalan que las variables climáticas podrían ejercer una influencia sobre el comportamiento higiénico.…”

“…La expresión del comportamiento higiénico es variable (Xonis et al, 2015), lo que se debe en parte a los efectos genéticos antes mencionados, pero también a la influencia de factores ambientales. Poco se sabe sobre los efectos ambientales que afectan el comportamiento higiénico de las abejas melíferas, pero se ha reportado que la cantidad de cría de la colonia y cambios en el flujo de néctar recolectado por las abejas pueden afectarlo (Wagoner et al, 2018), otros estudios apoyan la idea del comportamiento de las abejas (Sousa et al, 2016). Es importante determinar qué factores ambientales influyen en el comportamiento higiénico de las abejas melíferas para estandarizar sus efectos cuando se establezcan programas de crianza selectiva para desarrollar estirpes de abejas altamente higiénicas.…”

Melhoramento Genético E Qualidade De Abelhas Rainhas Matrizes Selecionadas Para Produção De Mel

“…Em um programa de melhoramento é necessário considerar a influência dos fatores ambientais na expressão do traço do comportamento higiênico, bem como na morfologia, comportamento e distribuição das abelhas africanizadas, considerando a alta variabilidade genética dentro dessas populações (SOUSA et al, 2016). É importante considerar também, a época ideal de introdução da nova rainha, para que se possa garantir o sucesso na taxa de postura de ovos da rainha e o consequente aumento na produção de mel (CARBONARI et al, 2016).…”