Microsatellite variability reveals beekeeping influences on Iberian honeybee populations

Fernando Cánovas , Pilar Rúa , José Serrano , José Galián

The genetic structure of the Iberian honey bee (Apis mellifera iberiensis) was studied by analysing 10 microsatellite loci in 362 workers representative of nine Spanish provinces. Heterozygosity values of Iberian honeybee populations are intermediate between African and west European ones whereas allelic diversity is remarkably high at several loci. There is no definite geographic structure of Iberian honeybee populations. At a peninsular scale, the expected clinal pattern observed with mitochondrial data has been probably lost due to the extensive practice of mobile beekeeping and increased colony trade-off. Due to these practices, it is expected that the genetic homogenisation will increase during the next years. Though this might have positive effects on honey production, putative ecotypes existing in Iberia would be prone to disappear.

Mots clés: Apis mellifera; population genetics; synthesis maps

Domaines: Zoologie des invertébrés; Biodiversité; Ecologie, Environnement; Science des productions animales

Fernando Cánovas, Pilar Rúa, José Serrano, José Galián. Microsatellite variability reveals beekeeping influences on Iberian honeybee populations. Apidologie, 2011, 42 (3), pp.235-251. ⟨10.1007/s13592-011-0020-1⟩. ⟨hal-01003551⟩