Genetic Analysis and Mitotype Determination of a Survivor Population of Honey Bees (Apis Mellifera) In New York
Date
2014-05
Authors
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
The ‘western’ honey bee, Apis mellifera L., was established in the United
States over 400 years ago as a result of European settlement and today exists as two groups: managed and non-managed (feral). Beekeepers manage colonies selecting for a few traits and phenotypes associated with Italian and Carniolan subspecies. The arrival of a parasitic brood mite, Varroa destructor, caused a major decimation to both managed and feral honey bee populations. The current status of feral bees is relatively unknown although managed populations continue to decline across the country. My study examines the genetic structure of non-managed “survivor stock” bee colonies in the Arnot Forest, located in Ithaca, NY, and compares it to bees found in two surrounding apiaries. Nuclear DNA allele frequency comparisons found genetic differentiation (3 distinct clusters) between the feral bees and bees from the two managed apiaries. I found that 1) the Arnot tree bees are feral as opposed to escaped managed bees filling old nest cavities, 2) these feral bees are persisting in the wild despite treatment for agents such as Varroa and other human manipulations, and 3) there are barriers to gene flow between feral and managed populations. I uncovered two mtDNA haplotypes among my samples―Apis mellifera carnica and Apis mellifera ligustica, both subspecies of the western European honey bee. Based on these findings, I suggest more sustainable management practices of our managed
honey bee populations in the hopes that they too well develop a more stable coexistence with the agents causing their decline. Strategies include reducing hive size, discontinuing the selection for low-swarming bees, slowing or discontinuing the use of mite-control treatments, spacing hives further apart, and decreasing transportationinduced stress of bees. I believe that by working to ensure bees can foster a balanced relationship with their disease agents, the population decimations across the globe can be reduced.