Isozymic Uniformity in the Presence of Environmentally Induced Morphological Variation in Apis mellifera capensis

Nunamaker, R. A.; Wilson, William T.; Cox, Robert L.

doi:10.1093/aesa/79.4.576

Cited by 1 publication

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“…Although few of the allozyme systems of honeybees have proven polymorphic, malate dehydrogenase has a range of morphs the frequency distributions of which correspond reasonably well with biometrically defined races (Ruttner, 1988). In southern Africa those bees classified as A. m. capensis and A. m. scutellata (Cape Peninsula and Transvaal samples respectively) are monomorphic and homozygous for the fast form of malate dehydrogenase, Mdh-100 (Nunamaker and Wilson, 1981;Sylvester, 1982;Nunamaker et al, 1984Nunamaker et al, , 1986Sheppard and Huettel, 1988). Further investigations confirmed these basic results as well as for bees of the fynbos biome; and, the occurrence of Mdh heterozygotes at two localities can be explained as resulting from foreign (and presumably failed) introductions (Hepburn, 1990).…”

Section: Allozyme Variationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Apis mellifera capensis: an essay on the subspecific classification of honeybees

Hepburn

Radloff

2002

Apidologie

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-The history of the classification of Apis mellifera capensis is traced. The distributions of the traits thelytoky, ovariole number and spermatheca size of workers are given. Thelytoky in workers extends over 240 000 km 2 and the ratio of female/male progeny in laying worker offspring is clinal. Ovariole numbers are also clinal but spermatheca size is not. Allozymically, southern African honeybees are homogeneous; but differ in mtDNA haplotypes and nuclear DNA diversity. Morphometric analyses yield three distinct morphoclusters (A. m. capensis, A. m. scutellata, and unnamed mountain bees). Conventional morphometric classification is incongruous with the mode of parthenogenesis and distribution of mtDNA and nuclear DNA diversity in the honeybees of southern Africa. The terms "A. m. capensis" and "A. m. scutellata" are only meaningful if the precise geographical origins of the bees are specified.Apis mellifera capensis / Apis mellifera scutellata / classification / biogeography / thelytoky

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Section: Allozyme Variationmentioning

confidence: 99%