Abstract
Wing morphometry, isozymic variation and mitochondrial RFLPs were studied in samples of feral Africanized bees collected at three different locations in Costa Rica, two of them in the lowlands (Guanacaste and Golfito regions) and the other in the Central Valley. These data revealed a predominantly African origin at all locations. However, significant heterogeneity was found between the two lowland sites and the Central Valley for some isozyme markers as well as for the RFLPs considered in this study. Both isozymic and mitochondrial DNA European markers were more frequent in the Central Valley. This could be the result of different opportunities for European gene introgression at the beginning of the migration of Africanized honeybees. It is shown that different gene frequencies of mitochondrial and nuclear European genetic markers may exist in Africanized bee populations, and that this may result from different selection pressures among colonies with African and European queens.
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Acknowledgements
I am grateful to William Ramirez for his assistance with bee collection in the field and his guidance in the main aspects of this research. I also thank Gabriel Aguilar and Rafael Aguilar for technical assistance in the field and in the laboratory. This work was supported by the International Foundation of Science (IFS), grant no. B-1975, and funds from Vicerrectoria de Investigacion, Universidad de Costa Rica, grant no. 111-92-207.
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Lobo, J. Morphometric isozymic and mitochondrial variability of Africanized honeybees in Costa Rica. Heredity 75, 133–141 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1995.116
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1995.116
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