Detecting population admixture in honey bees of Serbia

作者：Nedic Nebojsa; Francis Roy Mathew; Stanisavljevic Ljubisa; Pihler Ivan; Kezic Nikola; Bendixen Christian; Kryger Per^*

来源：Journal of Apicultural Research, 2014, 53(2): 303-313.

DOI：10.3896/IBRA.1.53.2.12

• DNA microsatellites
• classical wing morphometry
• population structure
• adegenet
• spatial PCA
• admixture
• Apis mellifera L.
• Serbia

Honey bee workers were sampled across the Serbian territory during 2009-2010 from mostly non-migratory apiaries to determine the population structure of these bees using morphometric, genetic, and spatial information. A total of 134 bees were sampled, of which 77 were analysed using classical wing morphometrics and 122 bees were successfully analysed using 24 DNA microsatellite markers. A combination of methods including multivariate statistics and assignment tests (frequency-based and Bayesian) revealed the honey bees of this region to resemble the subspecies Apt mellifera macedonica, Apis mellifera carnica or hybrids of these two subspecies. Based on Bayesian assignment (%26apos;Structure%26apos;) and spatial PCA, honey bees within the Serbian territory were composed of 56%-58% A. m. carica and 42%-44% A. m. macedonica. Spatial analysis showed the existence of a north-west to south-east dine in genetic differentiation. The bees in the north-west resemble A. m. carnica, while the bees in the south-east of the country are more similar to A. m. macedonica. Thus, the extent of A. m. macedonica within Serbia was greater than previously estimated. We define a line of hybridisation between A. m. carnica and A. m. macedonica within our study area. The dine of differentiation was still evident using a combination of genetic and spatial information, in spite of beekeeping activities including transhumance and breeding efforts.

• 出版日期2014