ISSN:
1420-9071
Keywords:
Honey bee
;
Apis mellifera
;
mitochondrial DNA
;
colonization
;
subspecies
;
population genetics
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Since the introduction of an African subspecies into Brazil in the mid-1950's1, descendent ‘Africanized’ honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) have spread throughout the Neotropics and into temperate North America. Restriction enzyme analysis of 422 feral honey bee colonies collected from non-Africanized areas in the southern United States revealed that over 21% of them had mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) derived from a European race established in North America by the 17th century, 77% of them had mtDNA common in honey bees maintained by beekeepers and about 1% exhibited African mtDNA. Further analysis revealed that the African mtDNA was derived from a north African subspecies imported to the US in the 19th century.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01955156
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