Morphometric identification of the endemic Maltese honey bee (<i>Apis mellifera ruttneri</i>)

Janczyk, Anna; Meixner, Marina D.; Tofilski, Adam

doi:10.1080/00218839.2020.1827705

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…For instance, by natural hybridizations in the contact areas of two subspecies, as we find between A. m. remipes and A. m. caucasia on the borders between Turkey and Armenia, and between lineages as has been reported previously [ 29 , 89 , 94 , 95 , 96 ]. Or hybridizations due to contemporary human-mediated processes, as we see in the case of A. m. ruttneri on the island of Malta [ 97 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population Structure and Diversity in European Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.)—An Empirical Comparison of Pool and Individual Whole-Genome Sequencing

Chen

Momeni

Langa

et al. 2022

Genes

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Background: Whole-genome sequencing has become routine for population genetic studies. Sequencing of individuals provides maximal data but is rather expensive and fewer samples can be studied. In contrast, sequencing a pool of samples (pool-seq) can provide sufficient data, while presenting less of an economic challenge. Few studies have compared the two approaches to infer population genetic structure and diversity in real datasets. Here, we apply individual sequencing (ind-seq) and pool-seq to the study of Western honey bees (Apis mellifera). Methods: We collected honey bee workers that belonged to 14 populations, including 13 subspecies, totaling 1347 colonies, who were individually (139 individuals) and pool-sequenced (14 pools). We compared allele frequencies, genetic diversity estimates, and population structure as inferred by the two approaches. Results: Pool-seq and ind-seq revealed near identical population structure and genetic diversities, albeit at different costs. While pool-seq provides genome-wide polymorphism data at considerably lower costs, ind-seq can provide additional information, including the identification of population substructures, hybridization, or individual outliers. Conclusions: If costs are not the limiting factor, we recommend using ind-seq, as population genetic structure can be inferred similarly well, with the advantage gained from individual genetic information. Not least, it also significantly reduces the effort required for the collection of numerous samples and their further processing in the laboratory.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population Structure and Diversity in European Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.)—An Empirical Comparison of Pool and Individual Whole-Genome Sequencing

Chen

Momeni

Langa

et al. 2022

Genes

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“…The cluster analysis reveals similarities among honey bee subspecies belonging to the same evolutionary lineage. In nurse bees, the members of the lineage M, A. m. mellifera and A. m. iberiensis, and the members of the lineage C, A. m. carnica, A. m. ligustica, and A. m. macedonica, are more similar among each other than between the different lineages [6,7,58,59]. This indicates an effect of genetic drift on the CHC profiles of the subspecies subsequent to their phylogenetic divergence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Deciphering the variation in cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of six European honey bee subspecies

Rodríguez-León,

Uzunov,

Costa

et al. 2024

Preprint

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The Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) subspecies exhibit local adaptive traits that evolved in response to the different environments that characterize their native distribution ranges. An important trait is the cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profile, which helps preventing desiccation and mediating communication. We compared the CHC profiles of six European subspecies (A. m. mellifera,A. m. carnica,A. m. ligustica,A. m. macedonica,A. m. iberiensis, andA. m. ruttneri) and investigated potential factors shaping their composition. We found that forager CHC profiles were more subspecies- specific than those of nurse bees. These differences could be partially explained by their molecular phylogeny, indicating genetic drift as an important factor. We did not find adaptation of the CHC profiles of the subspecies to the climatic conditions in their distribution range. Nurse bees showed a larger variation in subspecies-specific CHC profiles, likely due to a controlled environment with less desiccation stress inside the hive. The strongest profile differences appeared between nurse bees and foragers in all subspecies, suggesting an adaptation to social task and a role in communication. Foragers also showed an increase in the relative amount of alkanes in their profiles compared to nurses, indicating adaptation to climatic conditions.

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“…However, in combination with another study [37], and assuming random sampling, it can be estimated that in Switzerland, the admixture increased from 4.5-9.1% before 1959 to 31-60% in 2016. It was also observed that, over time, honey bees in Malta become less similar to Lineage A and more similar to Lineage C [38].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Historical Changes in Honey Bee Wing Venation in Romania

Tofilski

Căuia²,

Siceanu³

et al. 2021

Insects

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The honey bee (Apis mellifera) is an ecologically and economically important species that provides pollination services to natural and agricultural systems. The biodiversity of the honey bee is being endangered by the mass import of non-native queens. In many locations, it is not clear how the local populations have been affected by hybridisation between native and non-native bees. There is especially little information about temporal changes in hybridisation. In Romania, A. m. carpatica naturally occurs, and earlier studies show that there are two subpopulations separated by the Carpathian Mountains. In this study, we investigated how the arrangement of veins in bees’ wings (venation) has changed in Romanian honey bees in the last four decades. We found that in the contemporary population of Romanian bees, there are still clear differences between the intra- and extra-Carpathian subpopulations, which indicates that natural variation among honey bees is still being preserved. We also found significant differences between bees collected before and after 2000. The observed temporal changes in wing venation are most likely caused by hybridisation between native bees and non-native bees sporadically introduced by beekeepers. In order to facilitate conservation and the monitoring of native Romanian bees, we developed a method facilitating their identification.

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Morphometric identification of the endemic Maltese honey bee (Apis mellifera ruttneri)

Cited by 7 publications

References 19 publications

Population Structure and Diversity in European Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.)—An Empirical Comparison of Pool and Individual Whole-Genome Sequencing

Population Structure and Diversity in European Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.)—An Empirical Comparison of Pool and Individual Whole-Genome Sequencing

Deciphering the variation in cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of six European honey bee subspecies

Historical Changes in Honey Bee Wing Venation in Romania

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