Wing geometric morphometrics and microsatellite analysis provide similar discrimination of honey bee subspecies

AbstractThe identification of honey bee (Apis mellifera) subspecies is often based on the measurements of workers’ fore-wings. The interpretation of the measurements can be difficult because the phenotype of workers is affected by both genetic and environmental factors. Moreover, it is not clear how the phenotype is affected by maternal inheritance. We have used the methodology of geometric morphometrics to verify if hybrids of honey bee subspecies and their backcrosses are more similar to either the father or mother colony. The comparison was based on fore-wing venation of three honey bee subspecies: A. m. carnica, A. m. caucasica, A. m. mellifera. First generation hybrids and backcrosses of those subspecies were obtained through instrumental insemination. Workers of the hybrids were compared with their parental colonies. The shape of wing venation was more similar to the maternal than to parental colony. This phenomenon was particularly visible in first generation of hybrids but it was also present in backcrosses. There were also symptoms of genetic dominance of some subspecies but this effect interacted with maternal inheritance and was difficult to interpret.

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Monthly Changes in Honey Bee Forewings Estimated Using Geometric Morphometrics

Journal of Apicultural Science ◽

10.2478/jas-2021-0002 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Anna Janczyk ◽

Adam Tofilski

Keyword(s):

Seasonal Variation ◽

Apis Mellifera ◽

Geometric Morphometrics ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Wing Size ◽

Seasonal Differences ◽

Size And Shape ◽

Complicated Pattern ◽

Monthly Changes ◽

Left And Right

AbstractHoney bee (Apis mellifera) wing measurements are often used to discriminate lineages and subspecies. The precision and repeatability of the measurements depends on various factors, including seasonal variation, and differences between left and right wings. The seasonal variation of the cubital index, which is the proportion of two vein lengths, has been investigated, but subspecies can be identified through geometric morphometrics. This method allows both wing size and shape to be determined and analyzed separately. We studied changes in the wing size and shape in consecutive months between June and September as well as the differences between the left and right wings. We found that wing size differed significantly among colonies, months and body sides, but shape differed significantly only among colonies and months but not among body sides. There was also a complicated pattern of interactions between various factors. The seasonal differences in wing shape were much smaller than the differences among colonies and their influence on identification of honey bee lineages was relatively small.

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Species boundaries inPhilaethriabutterflies: an integrative taxonomic analysis based on genitalia ultrastructure, wing geometric morphometrics, DNA sequences, and amplified fragment length polymorphisms

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society ◽

10.1111/zoj.12118 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 170 (4) ◽

pp. 690-709 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Kim R. Barão ◽

Gislene L. Gonçalves ◽

Olaf H. H. Mielke ◽

Marcus R. Kronforst ◽

Gilson R. P. Moreira

Keyword(s):

Geometric Morphometrics ◽

Dna Sequences ◽

Fragment Length ◽

Species Boundaries ◽

Taxonomic Analysis ◽

Length Polymorphisms ◽

Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms ◽

Wing Geometric Morphometrics

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Identification of the species of the Cheilosia variabilis group (Diptera, Syrphidae) from the Balkan Peninsula using wing geometric morphometrics, with the revision of status of C. melanopa redi Vujić, 1996

Contributions to Zoology ◽

10.1163/18759866-07803004 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 78 (3) ◽

pp. 129-140 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Lj. Francuski ◽

A. Vujić ◽

A. Kovačević ◽

J. Ludoški ◽

V. Milankov

Keyword(s):

Geometric Morphometrics ◽

Balkan Peninsula ◽

Wing Shape ◽

Canonical Variate ◽

Species Boundaries ◽

Wing Size ◽

Mahalanobis Distances ◽

Males And Females ◽

Wing Geometric Morphometrics ◽

Shape And Size

The present study investigates phenotypic differentiation patterns among four species of the Cheilosia variabilis group (Diptera, Syrphidae) using a landmark-based geometric morphometric approach. Herein, wing geometric morphometrics established species boundaries that confirm C. melanopa and C. redi stat. nov. as evolutionarily independent entities or separate species within the previously described C. melanopa species. Seventeen samples of C. lasiopa, C. variabilis, C. melanopa and C. redi from 11 localities on the Balkan Peninsula were analysed. Based on wing shape and size, both species boundaries and intraspecific divergent units were delineated indicating the possible presence of evolutionarily independent units within the analysed taxa. Significant differences in wing size were obtained among the analysed species and canonical variate analysis showed that wing shape was sufficiently different to allow the correct classification of 99.7% and 100% individuals of males and females, respectively. Considerable wing size variation was detected among males and females of conspecific populations of C. melanopa and males of C. variabilis. Contrary to partial discrimination based on the male wing shape among conspecific populations of C. redi and C. variabilis, clear separation of conspecific populations of C. melanopa (for both sexes) and females of C. redi and C. variabilis was observed. The UPGMA cluster analysis based on squared Mahalanobis distances revealed a close similarity between C. melanopa and C. redi, whereas C. lasiopa was the most divergent species. Results presented in this study utilize wing shape and size as new taxonomic characters in delimitating the closely related species and populations of the Cheilosia variabilis group.

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