----- Original Message -----
From: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>


>The survival traits they display today, such as 
<snip> lowered defensiveness,<snip> are all tied to surviving in 
temperate woodland conditions.

How is lowered defensiveness tied to survival?  I am not saying that 
they are not less defensive, nor am I saying that when moving to the 
forests of europe that they did not become less defensive, I am 
wondering why you feel this is a survival trait.  Where is the 
advantage over more defensive bees (and there should be one, even if it 
is merely that it is more costly in terms of calories or resources to 
mount a spirited defense when it is needed less often).

Given the reputation of A.m.m. as being rather cross, I suspect that 
much of the gentility we see may be the result of our tinkering through 
the millenia.  I have no data to that effect, but hey, a little 
speculation never hurts, as long as it is labled as such.
 
>Who knows 
> but 
> the selection process at the fringe must have been ruthless.

Natural selection is *always* ruthless.  There is not thought to it, 
therefore no compassion, no ruth as it were.

>  Who is 
> to 
> say the same selection process cannot bring out in European bees 
> the 
> traits for survival with the new parasites?  I would not rule it 
> out.  

Nor should you. 


Keith

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