Honey Bee Diversity is Swayed by Migratory Beekeeping and Trade Despite Conservation Practices: Genetic Evidences for the Impact of Anthropogenic Factors on Population Structure

Abstract

Intense admixture of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) populations is mostly attributed to migratory beekeeping practices and replacement of queens or colonies with non-native races or hybrids of different subspecies. These two practices are also heavily carried out in Turkey where 5 subspecies are present naturally. Despite the signs of gene flow, our findings confirm high levels of geographically structured genetic diversity of four subspecies of honey bees in Turkey and emphasize the need to develop policies to maintain this diversity.

Climate Change Prompts Monitoring and Systematic Utilization of Honey Bee Diversity in Turkey

“…Migratory beekeeping and bee trade are shown to act like a hybrid zone mobile in space and time, facilitating the partial amalgamation of subspecies in Turkey (Kükrer, 2013;Kükrer et al, 2020;Oskay, Kükrer, & Kence, 2019). Despite that, high levels of geographically structured genetic diversity of honey bee subspecies in Turkey and the need to develop policies to maintain it, was also confirmed.…”

“…Increasing hybridization of honey bee subspecies due to human activities like migratory beekeeping and queen and colony trade also threaten honey bees by potentially leading to loss of gene combinations that provide local success (Kükrer, Kence, & Kence, 2020).…”

“…Increasing hybridization of honey bee subspecies due to human activities like migratory beekeeping and queen and colony trade also threaten honey bees by potentially leading to loss of gene combinations that provide local success (Kükrer, Kence, & Kence, 2020). The absence of effective implementation of documentation and monitoring methods for uncovering Published by Apiculture Research Institute (ARI) Ordu, Turkey the genetic basis of adaptive traits makes it difficult to understand and resist the trend of human induced loss of adaptive diversity.…”

Climate change prompts monitoring and systematic utilization of honey bee diversity in Turkey

“…Migratory beekeeping and bee trade are shown to act like a hybrid zone mobile in space and time, facilitating the partial amalgamation of subspecies in Turkey (Kükrer, 2013;Kükrer et al, 2020;Oskay, Kükrer, & Kence, 2019). Despite that, high levels of geographically structured genetic diversity of honey bee subspecies in Turkey and the need to develop policies to maintain it, was also confirmed.…”

“…Increasing hybridization of honey bee subspecies due to human activities like migratory beekeeping and queen and colony trade also threaten honey bees by potentially leading to loss of gene combinations that provide local success (Kükrer, Kence, & Kence, 2020). The absence of effective implementation of documentation and monitoring methods for uncovering the genetic basis of adaptive traits makes it difficult to understand and resist the trend of human induced loss of adaptive diversity.…”