Publicação

An unparalleled survey of honey bee genetic diversity in Europe – insights from wing shape, nuclear whole genome, and mitochondrial DNA data

Detalhes bibliográficos
Resumo:	Europe is home to 10 subspecies of Apis mellifera, classified into four main lineages sensu Ruttner: M (western and northern European), C (southeastern European), A (African), and O (Middle Eastern). However, large-scale movements of honey bee genetic material—driven by transhumance and, more importantly, queen trading—has intensified gene flow, particularly from the C-lineage subspecies A. m. carnica and A. m. ligustica, threatening the genetic integrity of several subspecies and blurring the genetic boundaries between subspecies. Here, we analyzed over 1,200 recently collected samples from apiaries in 33 countries using a multi-marker approach: maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA (tRNAleu-cox2 intergenic region), nuclear genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and wing shape (DeepWings©) to provide the most updated and extensive account of honey bee genetic variation in Europe. Our results reveal a strong dominance of C-lineage ancestry across Europe, with noteworthy introgression signals in island subspecies and A. m. mellifera populations outside conservation apiaries. Notably, all three markers consistently captured these broad introgression patterns. This unprecedented survey highlights a worrying trend of genetic homogenization in European honey bee populations. Moreover, the widespread prevalence of C-lineage genetic introgression underscores the need for conservation efforts to preserve the diversity shaped by evolution, which is crucial for adaptation to growing environmental challenges.
Autores principais:	Pinto, M. Alice
Outros Autores:	Li, Fernanda; Lopes, Ana Rita; Taliadoros, Demetris; Costa, Maíra; Yadró Garcia, Carlos A.; Cunha, Larissa; Henriques, Dora; Martin Hernandez, Giselle; Albo, Alexandre; Blažytė-Čereškienė, Laima; Brodschneider, Robert; Brusbardis, Valters; Carreck, Norman; Charistos, Leonidas; Chlebo, Robert; Cillia, Giovanni; Coffey, Mary F.; Dahle, Bjorn; Danneels, Ellen; Dobrescu, Constantin; Filipi, Janja; Gajda, Anna; Gratzer, Kristina; Groeneveld, Linn; Hatjina, Fani; Johannesen, Jes; Kolasa, Michal; Körmendy-Rácz, János; Kovačić, Marin; Kristiansen, Preben; Dupleix-Marchal, Anna; Martikkala, Maritta; McCormack, Grace; Martín-Hernández, Raquel; Nanetti, Antonio; Pavlov, Borce; Pietropaoli, Marco; Poirot, Benjamin; Radev, Zheko; Raudmets, Aivar; René-Douarre, Vincent; Roessink, Ivo; Škerl, Maja Ivana Smodiš; Soland, Gabriele; Titera, Dalibor; Van der Steen, Jozef; Varnava, Andri; Vejsnæs, Flemming; Graaf, Dirk C. de; Webster, Mathew
Assunto:	Apis mellifera Mitochondrial DNA
Ano:	2025
País:	Portugal
Tipo de documento:	documento de conferência
Tipo de acesso:	acesso aberto
Instituição associada:	Instituto Politécnico de Bragança
Idioma:	inglês
Origem:	Biblioteca Digital do IPB

Descrição
Resumo:	Europe is home to 10 subspecies of Apis mellifera, classified into four main lineages sensu Ruttner: M (western and northern European), C (southeastern European), A (African), and O (Middle Eastern). However, large-scale movements of honey bee genetic material—driven by transhumance and, more importantly, queen trading—has intensified gene flow, particularly from the C-lineage subspecies A. m. carnica and A. m. ligustica, threatening the genetic integrity of several subspecies and blurring the genetic boundaries between subspecies. Here, we analyzed over 1,200 recently collected samples from apiaries in 33 countries using a multi-marker approach: maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA (tRNAleu-cox2 intergenic region), nuclear genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and wing shape (DeepWings©) to provide the most updated and extensive account of honey bee genetic variation in Europe. Our results reveal a strong dominance of C-lineage ancestry across Europe, with noteworthy introgression signals in island subspecies and A. m. mellifera populations outside conservation apiaries. Notably, all three markers consistently captured these broad introgression patterns. This unprecedented survey highlights a worrying trend of genetic homogenization in European honey bee populations. Moreover, the widespread prevalence of C-lineage genetic introgression underscores the need for conservation efforts to preserve the diversity shaped by evolution, which is crucial for adaptation to growing environmental challenges.