Temporal changes in mitochondrial diversity highlights contrasting population events in Macaronesian honey bees

Financial support was provided by Fundación Séneca (project 11961/PI/09) to P. De la Rúa, and by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnología and COMPETE/QREN/EU (project PTDC/BIA-BEC/099640/2008) to M. A. Pinto. I. Muñoz is supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports.Temporal studies of the genetic diversity are important as they enable detection of genetic changes that can constitute threats to the honey bee populations. In this study, we analyzed the present mitochondrial diversity in honey bee populations inhabiting the Macaronesian archipelagos (Azores, Madeira and Canary), and compared with previous data over a 10-year period. Present populations showed mainly haplotypes characteristic of the evolutionary African sub-lineage (AIII), but foreign mitochondrial haplotypes (M7, C1 and C2) were also observed suggesting honey bee queens introductions with different origins. Differential patterns of change in mitochondrial diversity and introgression were detected: whereas a low decrease was detected on Madeira and São Miguel, major changes were observed on El Hierro, La Palma and La Gomera. Despite loss of AIII haplotypes relative to previous data, extant frequency and distribution of the African sub-lineage in the Macaronesian archipelagos appears sufficiently large to propose potential conservation policies for protecting local ecotypes.Depto. de Biodiversidad, Ecología y EvoluciónFac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEpu

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

Financial support was provided by Fundación Séneca (project 11961/PI/09) to P De la Rúa, and by Fundação para a Ciência eTecnología and COMPETE/QREN/EU (Project PTDC/BIABEC/099640/2008) to M A Pinto. I Muñoz was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports.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.Depto. de Biodiversidad, Ecología y EvoluciónFac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEpu

Population genetic structure of coastal Croatian honeybees (Apis mellifera carnica)

The genetic structure and molecular diversity of Croatian honeybee coastal populations have been investigated with microsatellite and mitochondrial markers. According to sequence data of the mitochondrial tRNAleu-cox2 intergenic region, all analysed samples belong to the Central Mediterranean and Southeast European evolutionary C-lineage. Four mitochondrial haplotypes have been found in the Croatian honeybees, whereas two newly described have been found in Croatia and Greek respectively. Through the Bayesian analysis of microsatellite variation, two groups can be distinguished within the Croatian honeybee population, suggesting the existence of two subpopulations of A. m. carnica. The relation of these subpopulations with previously described ecotypes and regional variations is discussed. These results emphasize the importance of sequencing in the description of new haplotypes and therefore, in the inference of molecular biodiversity within honeybee populations. The description of two subpopulations in coastal Croatian honeybees must be considered in future conservation strategies.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MCIN)Depto. de Biodiversidad, Ecología y EvoluciónFac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEpu

Genetic variation of Apis mellifera from Serbia inferred from mitochondrial analysis

This study was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Serbia Grant No. III46002. Irene Muñoz is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education.Two honeybee subspecies inhabit Serbia; Apis mellifera carnica and A. m. macedonica. Both belong to eastern Mediterranean (C) evolutionary lineage. Furthermore three Serbian honeybee ecotypes restricted to particular regions, were defined through morphometry and cytogenetic analyses. In this study, mitochondrial data have been used to analyze the molecular diversity of the honeybee population from Serbia. Seven haplotypes of the C evolutionary lineage have been found, two of them are newly described (C2o and C2p) and restricted to two regions, which ultimately increased the number of haplotypes found in this lineage. Comparisons with surrounding honeybee populations suggest a hybrid situation between A. m. carnica and A. m. macedonica and also introgression from A. m. ligustica. The results should be considered when dealing with future conservation strategies, and for pathogen-parasite-tolerant breeding programs.Depto. de Biodiversidad, Ecología y EvoluciónFac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEpu

Temporal genetic analysis of an introgressed island honey bee population (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain)

Depto. de Biodiversidad, Ecología y EvoluciónFac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEpu

The Atlantic side of the Iberian Peninsula: a hot-spot of novel African honey bee maternal diversity

Financial support was provided by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and COMPETE/QREN/EU (project PTDC/BIA-BEC/ 099640/2008), Programa Apícola Nacional (Medida 6A) to M. A. Pinto, and by Fundación Séneca (project 11961/PI/09) to P. De la Rúa.The Iberian honey bee has been one of the most surveyed subspecies for genetic diversity. Yet, previous studies have missed an important component of Iberian honey bee variation harbored by populations inhabiting the Atlantic side of the Iberian Peninsula. Herein, we provide a fuller picture of the Iberian honey bee maternal diversity by revealing 16 novel haplotypes detected in honey bees from Portugal. Of the 16 haplotypes, all of African ancestry, 15 belong to the Atlantic sub-lineage AIII while only one fits the most common sub-lineage AI. This level of new variation is remarkable as it represents a 59% increase in the wide-range African lineage and a 188% in sub-lineage AIII. Our findings further highlight the complexity of the Iberian honey bee diversity patterns and reinforce the importance of this southernmost European territory as a reservoir of Apis mellifera genetic diversity, a resource increasingly important in a rapidly changing and demanding world.Depto. de Biodiversidad, Ecología y EvoluciónFac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEpu

Biodiversity, conservation and current threats to European honeybees

Europe harbours several endemic honeybee (Apis mellifera) subspecies. Yet the distribution of these subspecies is nowadays also much influenced by beekeeping activities. Large scale migratory beekeeping and trade in queens, coupled with the promiscuous mating system of honeybees, have exposed native European honeybees to increasing introgressive hybridization with managed non-native subspecies, which may lead to the loss of valuable combinations of traits shaped by natural selection. Other threats to European honeybees are factors that have caused a progressive decline in A. mellifera throughout the world in recent years, leading to large economic losses and jeopardizing ecosystem functioning. We review the biodiversity of European honeybees and summarize the management and conservation strategies employed by different countries. A comprehensive picture of the beekeeping industry in Europe is also provided. Finally we evaluate the potential threats affecting the biodiversity of European honeybee populations and provide some perspectives for future research.BEESHOP European networkMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación (MCIN)Depto. de Biodiversidad, Ecología y EvoluciónFac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEpu

Population structure of North African honey bees is influenced by both biological and anthropogenic factors

Depto. de Biodiversidad, Ecología y EvoluciónFac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEpu

Caracterización molecular de la biodiversidad de la cabaña apícola de la provincia de Albacete

In this work we have studied the molecular biodiversity of honey bee (Apis mellifera iberiensis) colonies located in the province of Albacete. For this purpose, samples of honey bee workers were taken from colonies located throughout the province. These samples were characterized by analyzing a fragment of the mitochondrial DNA molecule (mtDNA). Such analysis allows to distinguish the evolutionary lineage that the colonies belong to and the type of mtDNA or haplotype bear by them. The results demonstrated that honey bees from Albacete belong mostly to the African evolutionary lineage (80%). These samples presented a high frequency of a particular type of mitochondrial molecule (or haplotype) most abundant in southern peninsular bees (A2, 63%). On the other hand, it has been detected a colony with a haplotype (C1) corresponding to European subspecies. This suggests that honey bee queens are being introduced from other sources but with a very low frequency. These data were used to complete the distribution map of peninsular evolutionary lineages and haplotypes in the Iberian honey bees.En este trabajo se ha estudiado la biodiversidad molecular de colmenas de la abeja de la miel (Apis mellifera iberiensis) situadas en la provincia de Albacete. Para ello se tomaron muestras de abejas obreras de colmenas distribuidas por toda la provincia. Estas muestras fueron caracterizadas mediante el análisis de un fragmento de la molécula del ADN mitocondrial (ADNmt) que permite determinar el linaje evolutivo al que pertenecen las colmenas y el tipo de ADNmt o haplotipo que portan. Como resultado se ha obtenido que las abejas de Albacete pertenecen en su mayoría al linaje evolutivo con herencia africana (80%) y que presentan, con una gran frecuencia, el haplotipo más abundante en las abejas del sur peninsular (A2, 63%). Por otro lado, se ha detectado una colmena con un haplotipo (C1) correspondiente a otras subespecies europeas. Este hecho indica que se están introduciendo reinas de otras procedencias aunque con una frecuencia muy reducida. Estos datos han servido para completar el mapa peninsular de distribución de los linajes evolutivos y haplotipos en las abejas ibéricas