Free Access
| Issue |
Apidologie
Volume 31, Number 2, March-April 2000
Taxonomy and Evolutionary biology of the Honeybees
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| Page(s) | 157 - 165 | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:2000113 | |
DOI: 10.1051/apido:2000113
Ecoclines in the Near East along 36
Apidologie 31 (2000) 157-165
Ecoclines in the Near East along 36
N latitude in Apis mellifera L.
Friedrich Ruttnera![[*]](/icons/foot_motif.gif){kind=icon}
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M. Pour Elmib
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Stefan Fuchsa
aInstitut für Bienenkunde (Polytechnische Gesellschaft), J.-W. Goethe Universität Frankfurt am
Main, Karl-von-Frisch Weg 2, 61440 Oberursel, Germany
bInstitut für Tierzucht und Haustiergenetik und Zentrum für kontinentale Agrar-und
Wirtschaftsforschung der Justus-Liebig Universität, Giessen, Ludwigstr. 21B, 35390 Giessen, Germany
Abstract:
The ideas examined and the results presented in the last unfinished manuscript of Friedrich
Ruttner have been further developed. Within the 6 populations of the Near East distinguishable by
morphometry, the bees of Massandaran in Iran occupy an important position due to their large size. Even
sea-level bees exceed the size of the bees of the elevated region of Central Iran, which seems to
contradict Bergmanns' s rule. An extended study had revealed that this population, clearly
belonging to the subspecies Apis mellifera meda, shows a very distinct size increase
from the Caspian Sea to the northern slope of the Elbrus Mountains, rising to 2 200 m in
elevation. A similar but less pronounced ecocline with a marked increase in size can be found
reaching up from the Mediterranean coast to the elevated Central Iranian region. The general
pattern within A. m. meda in the region along 36
N latitude thus generally
confirms Bergmann's rule, thus providing a fine example of an ecoclinal structure. However,
size differences between the extremes, i.e., the Mediterranean and the coast of the Caspian
Sea remain marked, which indicates an additional genetic component linked to a different
history of the populations. This might prove to be an interesting aspect, as the area covered
by A. meda is suspected to have played a major role in the evolution of A. mellifera.
N latitude thus generally
confirms Bergmann's rule, thus providing a fine example of an ecoclinal structure. However,
size differences between the extremes, i.e., the Mediterranean and the coast of the Caspian
Sea remain marked, which indicates an additional genetic component linked to a different
history of the populations. This might prove to be an interesting aspect, as the area covered
by A. meda is suspected to have played a major role in the evolution of A. mellifera.
Keywords:
Apis mellifera meda / morphometry / ecocline
Correspondence and reprints: Stefan Fuchs
e-mail: stefan.fuchs@em.uni-frankfurt.de
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