Mitochondrial gene frequencies in Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera L.): Theoretical model and empirical evidence

Abstract

A population genetical model is used to investigate the effects of queen and drone fitness and swarming ability on nuclear and mitochondrial (mt) DNA variation in honeybees. The analysis of both types of DNA is particularly useful for a genetic study of the Africanized bee problem in the Americas. Both an analytical model and a Monte Carlo simulation show that even if mtDNA proves to be selectively neutral, Africanized mitotypes are expected at high frequencies because of the more frequent swarming of Africanized honeybees. Since the fitness of Africanized drones is higher than that of European drones, European and African mitotypes are expected to be polymorphic and consequently unreliable as diagnostic tools to discriminate between the two types. Samples of Africanized honeybees in Brazil reveal high mtDNA polymorphisms as predicted by the theoretical models. Copyright © 1992, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved