Honey bee genotypes and the environment

Abstract

Although knowledge about honey bee geographic and genetic diversity has increased tremendously in recent decades (Meixner et al., 2013), the adaptation of honey bees to their local environment has not been well studied. The current demand for high economic performance of bee colonies with desirable behavioural characteristics contributes to changing the natural diversity via mass importations and an increasing practice of queen trade and colony movement. At the same time, there is also a growing movement in opposition to this trend, aimed at
\nconserving the natural heritage of local populations, with on-going projects in several countries (Strange et al., 2008; Dall’Olio et al., 2008, De la Rúa et al., 2009).