Phylogeography of Apis cerana populations on Hainan island and southern mainland China revealed by microsatellite polymorphism and mitochondrial DNA

International audienceAbstractIn this study, we reexamined the patterns of divergence and phylogeographic structure among Apis cerana populations on Hainan island and southern mainland China. Analysis of 10 microsatellite loci from 12 geographically distinct A. cerana populations identified a total of 151 alleles, with a range of 7 to 24 at each locus. The level of genetic variation (observed heterozygosity) within each population ranged from 0.603 to 0.661, while variation within populations contributed most (93.78–98.84 %) of the molecular variance. Microsatellite data revealed three differentiated groups, one including all the mainland populations while the other two containing one of and the other three island populations, respectively. Severe genetic introgressions from mainland China into Hainan island were apparent, and these were characterized at both population and individual levels using combined analysis of microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA

Naturwissenschaften (2005) 00

Defensiveness of honeybee colonies of Apis cerana and Apis mellifera (actively balling the wasps but reduction of foraging) against predatory wasps, Vespa velutina, and false wasps was assessed. There were significantly more worker bees in balls of the former than latter. Core temperatures in a ball around a live wasp of A. cerana were significantly higher than those of A. mellifera, and also significantly more when exposed to false wasps. Core temperatures of bee balls exposed to false wasps were significantly lower than those exposed to V. velutina for both A. cerana and for A. mellifera. The lethal thermal limits for V. velutina, A. cerana and A. mellifera were significantly different, so that both species of honeybees have a thermal safety factor in heat-killing such wasp predators. During wasps attacks at the hives measured at 3, 6 and 12 min, the numbers of Apis cerana cerana and Apis cerana indica bees continuing to forage were significantly reduced with increased wasp attack time. Tropical lowland A. c. indica reduced foraging rates significantly more than the highland A. c. cerana bees; but, there was no significant effect on for- T. Ken H. R. Hepburn () L. Yiqiu Z. Danyin Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Science Eastern Bee Research Institute of Yunnan Agricultural University, Heilongtan, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China e-mail: [email protected] Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa S. E. Radloff Department of Statistics, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa Y. Yu s h e n g Bee Research Institute of Yunnan Agricultural Academy of Science Mongzi, Yunnan Province, China P. Neumann Institut f ur Zoologie, Molekulare Okologie, Martin-Luther-Univer..

Genetic variation and population structure of <i>Apis cerana</i> in northern, central and southern mainland China, based on <i>COXI</i> gene sequences

<p>The eastern honey bee (<i>Apis cerana</i>), a Chinese native bee species, plays an important role in local ecosystems and agriculture, as it pollinates flowering plants. In this study, we assessed the genetic variation and population structure of <i>A. cerana</i> using the mitochondrial sequences of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (<i>COXI</i>). We collected samples from 11 provinces of China and also included previously-collected data from two provinces of southern China. A total of 1,518 sequences with a length of 760 bp in 51 <i>A. cerana</i> populations were analyzed. We found 111 haplotypes within these sequences, of which 78 haplotypes were newly-defined in this study. The star-like median-joining network revealed that the haplotypes found in this study were monophyletic. A large difference in genetic diversity was found, including a gradual decrease from southern to northern populations. The southern populations harbored most of the genetic diversity and should therefore be protected. We also found a significant genetic structure among the studied populations, and defined five populations as key conservation populations. These results could be valuable in making management and conservation strategies, and for a better understanding of the evolutionary history of <i>A. cerana</i> populations in China.</p