Geographic distribution of Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera) reflects niche characteristics of ancestral African subspecies

Abstract

The introduction of the Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera scutellata) in the New World is reported as one of the most successful exotic species invasion ever known. Here, we analyzed this invasion process through niche modeling approach, comparing the performance of modeling A. m. scutellata with other African subspecies distributions, projected into the New World. We applied the Genetic Algorithm for Rule Set Production (GARP) on a dataset of the original distribution of the subspecies in Africa. Only data from A. m. scutellata and A. m. jemenitica generated projected distributions in the Americas that resemble closely the current distribution of Africanized bees. These results suggest that the current distribution of Africanized honeybees in the New World to a great extent reflects niche characteristics from the subspecies that was originally introduced, reflecting a niche conservatism process.

Molecular characterization of Apis mellifera colonies from Argentina: genotypic admixture associated with ecoclimatic regions and apicultural activities

“…Carneiro Vital et al (2012) modeled the potential distribution of AHB in America based on nine climate-related environmental variables that defined the original distribution of seven subspecies of A. mellifera in Africa. Carneiro Vital et al (2012) modeled the potential distribution of AHB in America based on nine climate-related environmental variables that defined the original distribution of seven subspecies of A. mellifera in Africa.…”

“…Carneiro Vital et al (2012) modeled the potential distribution of AHB in America based on nine climate-related environmental variables that defined the original distribution of seven subspecies of A. mellifera in Africa. Carneiro Vital et al (2012) hypothesized that the suitable but unoccupied area defined by their models could overlap with the area of temporary colonization of Taylor & Spivak (1984), but the existence of limiting factors for colonization others than climate itself cannot be ruled out. Interestingly, their models predict that a suitable area that includes most of the Buenos Aires province is not currently occupied by AHB.…”

Potential pollination maintenance by an exotic allodapine bee under climate change scenarios in the Indo‐Pacific region

“…Vital et al. () and Jarnevich et al. () evaluated niche perspectives on how Apis mellifera Linnaeus was able to so effectively occupy the Americas.…”

“…Vital et al. () used presence‐only data to show how the native range niches of the subspecies of A. mellifera resemble that of each subspecies introduced in the Americas. On the other hand, Jarnevich et al.…”

“…; Vital et al. ; Jarnevich et al. ), this species is an important agricultural and economic asset to global pollination, with an estimated economic impact up to $5.7 billion dollars annually in the United States (Southwick and Southwick ).…”