Patrón espacial de la variación molecular de Apis mellifera en Gran Canaria y la Gomera (Islas Canarias)

Las islas del Archipiélago Canario presentan condiciones ambientales variables según su altitud, latitud y longitud, lo cual influye en la distribución de los organismos. En relación con la abeja de la miel (Apis mellifera L.), estudios previas realizados por De la Rúa et a I. ( 1998) Y por Padilla-Álvarez et al. (1998), sugieren la existencia en las Islas Canarias de poblaciones que han evolucionado de una forma relativamente aislada y que se han adaptado en cada isla a unas determinadas condiciones ambientales. Las abejas canarias fueron incluí das en un sublinaje de distribución atlántica (AIII) del linaje evolutivo africano, en el cual se circunscriben las poblaciones de abejas de los Archipiélagos Maearonésicos (Islas Azores, Madeira, Islas Salvajes, Islas Canarias y Cabo Verde) y de Portugal. En el presente trabajo se presentan los resultados del estudio de la variabilidad molecular al nivel mitocondrial (ADNmt), de las poblaciones de abejas de la miel en las islas canarias de Gran Canaria y La Gomera mediante el análisis de la región intergénica del ADNmt comprendida entre los genes del ARN transferente de la leucina (ARNtleu) y la subunidad II de la citocromo oxidasa (cox2). Este marcador es adecuado para estimar la diversidad genética y los patrones de diferenciación espacial, en relación con la variedad ambiental existente en las islas de Gran Canaria y La Gomera

The atlantic side of the iberian peninsula: a hot-spot of novel maternal honey bee diversity

The Iberian Peninsula harbors one the highest mitocondrial DNA (mtDNA) diversity ever reported for honey bee subspecies. This finding is explained not only by the co-occurrence of two divergent evolutionary lineages, western European (lineage M) and African (lineage A), but also by the higher variability of African and western European haplotypes. Indeed, over 36 haplotypes of western European and African ancestry, which form complex networks, have been reported for this area of the honey bee natural range. While studies on the diversity patterns of central and Mediterranean Iberian populations are abundant, the genetic composition of populations inhabiting the Atlantic side was until recently virtually unknown. Using the popular DraI test (PCR amplification and restriction of the intergenic tRNAleu-coxII region) we performed a fine scale genetic survey of the honey bee populations from Portugal. Adding to the 24 previously described African haplotypes, of which 17 are found in the Iberian Peninsula, 13 unreported haplotypes of African ancestry were found in our survey, which represent an addition of 54% of new variation. The fragment sizes ranged from approximately 800 to 1200 bp and the restriction length of the new haplotypes were very distinct from those reported in the literature. To further confirm the novelty of these haplotypes, we sequenced the aforementioned mtDNA region. Herein we present a phylogenetic analysis of these novel haplotypes

El código de barras de ADN confirma la distribución de Bombus magnus (Vogt, 1911) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) en la península Ibérica

Bombus magnus (Vogt, 1911) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) is one of the three cryptic species belonging to the lucorum complex besides B. lucorum (Linnaeus, 1761) and B. cryptarum (Fabricius, 1775). In the Iberian Peninsula, only B. lucorum and B. magnus are present but the presence of this last species south of the Pyrenees has not yet been confirmed. Given their morphological similarity, we used the DNA barcode region for the identification of 113 individuals of this species complex in an Iberian sampling. Results confirm the presence of B. magnus in the Pyrenees and extend its current distribution to the Northern Iberian Plateau. Given these results, we suggest that the distribution and conservation status of this species in the Iberian Peninsula should be revised.Bombus magnus (Vogt, 1911) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) es una de las tres especies crípticas pertenecientes al complejo lucorum junto con B. lucorum (Linnaeus, 1761) y B. cryptarum (Fabricius, 1775). En la península Ibérica solo se encuentran B. lurocum y B. magnus pero la presencia de esta última no ha sido confirmada al sur de los Pirineos. Dada su similitud morfológica, usamos la región del código de barras de ADN para identificar 113 individuos de este complejo de especies en un muestreo ibérico. Los resultados confirman la presencia de B. magnus en los Pirineos y amplían su distribución actual hacia la meseta Norte ibérica. Dados estos resultados, sugerimos que ha de revisarse su distribución y el estado de conservación de esta especie en la península Ibérica

First record of the carpenter bee Xylocopa pubescens (Hymenoptera, Apidae) in the Canary Islands confirmed by DNA barcoding

Island ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to the introduction of exotic species that can have an impact on local fauna and flora. Here, the carpenter bee Xylocopa pubescens is reported in Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain) for the first time. This species is native to North Africa and the Near East and shows a rapid dispersion across the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, together with a single record in the southernmost tip of the island. Different hypotheses about its arrival to the island are discussed.P. De la Rúa is supported by Project 19908/GERM/2015 of Regional Excellence (Fundación Séneca).Peer reviewe

Polymorphisms in cytochrome P450 versus cline distribution of evolutionary lineages in Apis mellifera iberiensis

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are the most prominent and economically important pollinator species worldwide. However, the reported decline of its populations in several regions of the world over the last decades is of concern. The causes are manifold, including the spread of pathogens and parasites, malnutrition and habitat loss, climate change and xenobiotics, especially pesticides. Among the main mechanisms used by insects to cope with the adverse effects of xenobiotics is the metabolic resistance mediated mainly by three superfamilies of enzymes: the cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, the glutathione transferases and the carboxylesterases. We hypothesize that the genetic background influences the sensitivity to pesticides or detoxification capacity of different honey bee populations, ecotypes and subspecies. The Iberian Peninsula provides an interesting scenario to study the genetic variability of the cytochrome P450 genes given the co-occurrence of two clinally distributed evolutionary lineages, as a result of secondary contact. In this study, the genetic variability of six genes of the cytochrome P450 superfamily (CYP6AS3, CYP6AS4, CYP6AS5, CYP6AS7, CYP6AS12 and CYP6AS17) was analyzed in the Iberian honey bee (Apis mellifera iberiensis) to provide more information on the mechanisms of resistance to xenobiotics and to identify the genetic variation involved in local adaptation. Genomic signal of selective sweeps was detected in three genes, of which CYP6AS5 presents the highest number of point mutations under selection, being proposed as a candidate gene to perform gene expression studies. We discuss the correlation between the variability of P450 genes and the distribution of the evolutionary lineages in the Iberian Peninsula. The identification of polymorphisms in these genes promises to shed light on the relationship between diversity and xenobiotic tolerance of A. m. iberiensis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Searching for Molecular Markers to Differentiate Bombus terrestris (Linnaeus) Subspecies in the Iberian Peninsula

Bumblebees (genus Bombus Latreille) are pollinator insects of great ecological and economic importance, which commercial use for pollination has increased since the 80s. However, the introduction of foreign Bombus terrestris (Linnaeus) has resulted in a decline of native bumblebee populations in Japan, Chile or Argentina among others. To study the potential introgression of commercial B. terrestris into the Iberian endemic subspecies Bombus terrestris lusitanicus Krüger, it is necessary to find a precise molecular marker that differentiates both subspecies. For this purpose, comparative analyses were carried out between B. t. lusitanicus and B. t. terrestris (Linnaeus) from Spain and from Belgium by sequencing the nuclear genes elongation factor 1-α and arginine kinase and the mitochondrial gene 16S ribosomal RNA, and genotyping with eleven microsatellite loci. No differentiation was observed at the nuclear level, but haplotypes found within the 16S sequence correlated with the morphological characterization of the subspecies. In a case study including individuals sampled before the establishment of bumblebee rearing companies and others from recent samplings, we detected hybrid individuals (those with non-matching morphological subspecies and 16S haplotype) more frequently in the south supporting the naturalization of commercial B. t. terrestris and introgression events between both subspecies. This marker should be used in Iberian populations with the aim to support management and conservation actions in endemic populations of B. t. lusitanicus

Caracterización molecular de la abeja melífera utilizada en las diferentes regiones productoras de la provincia de Buenos Aires

Fil: Abrahamovich, Alberto H.. División Entomología, Museo de La Plata, Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Paseo del Bosque s/n, 1900, La Plata, ArgentinaFil: Atela, Osvaldo. Ministerio de Asuntos Agrarios de la provincia de Buenos Aires, Cabaña Apiario Pedro J. Bover, ArgentinaFil: Galián, J.. Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física, Universidad de Murcia, EspañaFil: De la Rúa, Pilar. Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física, Universidad de Murcia, Españ

Effects of queen importation on the genetic diversity of Macaronesian island honey bee populations (Apis mellifera Linneaus 1758)

Beekeeping practices such as the importation of non-native honey bee queens may interact with the conservation of honey bee biodiversity. Island honey bee populations are particularly appropriate to test the impact of the introduction of foreign subspecies into their genetic diversity and structure. Here we have used microsatellite markers to evaluate the temporal genetic variation over the last decade in Macaronesian honey bee populations, which have been exposed to different beekeeping strategies regarding queen importation as previously revealed by mitochondrial determination of the evolutionary lineage: a high level on Tenerife and São Miguel and absent or low on La Palma and Madeira. While genetic diversity remained low(from 0.402 to 0.483 in the previous survey and from 0.390 to 0.513 in the current survey), genetic introgression from foreign honey bees was detected on Tenerife and São Miguel based on Bayesian structure analysis. Nevertheless, the existence of endemic honey bee populations deserving conservation on the Macaronesian Islands can still be inferred from the aforementioned analyses

Comparação dos níveis de introgressão da linhagem C na abelha negra (Apis mellifera mellifera) estimados usando microsatélites e SNPs seleccionados pelo critério de proximidade

Na Europa estão presentes duas linhagens de Apis mellifera: linhagem C na parte central e oriental e M na ocidental. A linhagem C agrupa cerca de 10 subespécies, entre as quais se encontram as duas mais utilizadas pela apicultura à escala mundial: a A. m. ligustica e a A. m. carnica. A linhagem M agrupa apenas duas subespécies: a A. m. mellifera, a norte dos Pirenéus, e a A. m. iberiensis, na Península Ibérica. Durante as últimas décadas a actividade humana tem alterado a distribuição na Europa, sobretudo através da introdução em grande escala de rainhas de A. m. ligustica e A. m. carnica na área nativa da A. m. mellifera. Para evitar o desaparecimento de A. m. mellifera, diversos programas de conservação têm sido aplicados, sendo que o cálculo da taxa de introgressão usando marcadores moleculares é uma ferramenta crucial de gestão das populações de conservação. A maioria dos estudos tem utilizado como marcadores moleculares os microsatélites e o mtDNA. No entanto, os SNPs apresentam vantagens em relação aos microsatélites, tais como: uma boa cobertura do genoma, dados de maior qualidade, e facilidade de automatização usando tecnologias de alta capacidade. Diversos estudos mostram que os microsatélites têm um maior poder discriminatório, sendo necessários 100 SNPs para se ter a mesma informação de 10-20 microsatélites. No presente estudo compararam-se as taxas de introgressão estimadas usando os 12 microsatélites com as estimadas usando dois conjuntos de SNPs (um de 60 e outro de 120). Uma vez que dispúnhamos de um conjunto inicial de cerca de 1436 SNPs, neste trabalho escolhemos os 60 e os 120 SNPs que se encontravam mais próximos (em pares de bases) dos microsatélites. Quando comparamos as taxas de introgressão obtidas nas várias simulações verificámos que 8 dos 77 indivíduos analisados apresentam diferenças superiores a 20%. Neste trabalho irão ser apresentados e discutidos os resultados obtidos

First data on the prevalence and distribution of pathogens in bumblebees (Bombus terrestris and Bombus pascuorum) from Spain

Bumblebees provide pollination services not only to wildflowers but also to economically important crops. In the context of the global decline of pollinators, there is an increasing interest in determining the pathogen diversity of bumblebee species. In this work, wild bumblebees of the species Bombus terrestris and Bombus pascuorum from northern and southern Spain were molecularly screened to detect and estimate prevalence of pathogens. One third of bumblebees were infected: while viruses only infected B. pascuorum, B. terrestris was infected by Apicystis bombi, Crithidia bombi and Nosema bombi. Ecological differences between host species might affect the success of the pathogens biological cycle and consequently infection prevalence. Furthermore, sex of the bumblebees (workers or males), sampling area (north or south) and altitude were important predictors of pathogen prevalence. Understanding how these factors affect pathogens distribution is essential for future conservation of bumblebee wild populations