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From:
randy oliver <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 6 Nov 2009 21:06:21 -0800
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>tropical and subtropical American environments have become dominated by AHB
that exhibit only 20–35% genetic contribution from western European bees,
and a predominance of African behavioral and physiological traits. EHB
persist in temperate

> environments.
>

You two are both right!

Yes, the AHB is a hybrid--it incorporated the most useful alleles from the
EHB genome--about a quarter of its genome.  It is a "new" and changing race,
that will likely form subraces adapted for different tropical and
subtropical regions.

And yes, all EHB in the US are hybrids, and are now hybridizing with the
AHB--incorporating some it its genome to the EHB's advantage.  There is a
flow of genes moving northward.

Likely, the end result will be two distinct races, with a division line at
about 30 degrees latitude, and determined largely by the pattern of cool
rainfall, which limits the usefulness of the AHB behavioral traits.

The EHB and AHB will likely eventually stabilize into two races of bees--the
AHB likely similar to what it is now, and the EHB somewhat "improved," but
more adapted for wintering than its cousin.

As far as defensiveness, I would guess that in the absence of honey badgers,
and the myriad other predators that scutellata faced in Africa, that the
energetic expenditure necessary for explosive colony defense will tend to
quiet down.

Randy Oliver

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