Determination of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) biodiversity of Turkey by using geometri̇c morphometri̇c methods

In recent years, it has been thought that homogenization has occurred in Turkish honey bee biodiversity due to the migratory beekeeping and commercial queen bee breeding, commonly followed in Turkey. The aim of the present study is to reveal the current situation of Turkish honeybee biodiversity by studying honeybee samples representing different races and ecotypes of Turkey. For this purpose, worker honey bees were collected from 32 different locations in Turkey. The right front wings of the samples were studied by using both classical and geometric morphometric methods. The data from classical and geometric morphometric methods was compared by ANOVA and MANOVA. It was found that the difference between all populations was found statistically significant (p<0,05) in terms of at least one character. The results of classical morphometry showed that Ardahan and Isparta populations were separated from other populations and formed close group to each other on two dimensional plots, as well as on UPGMA dendrogram. When worker honeybee samples from local area (Ardahan, Hatay, Gaziantep and Artvin) were compared to DA, PDK, DİU, RU, IKU, IKG which were studied for the first time in this study, Ardahan, Hatay, Gaziantep and Artvin showed significant differences (P< 0,001) both from each other and from other populations in terms of DA and PDK, IKU, DIU and IKU and DBI characteristics respectively. On the other hand, N23 was observed as a distinctive character for the Kırklareli population. According to the results of DFA and UPGMA of geometric morphometry data, Isparta and Ardahan were made a close cluster to each other, Whereas Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş and Zonguldak populations grouped separately from each other and all other populations. According to the results of local geographic areas, honeybee samples from Southeastern Anatolia made a separate group on UPGMA dendrogram based on Mahalanobis distances while honey bees of Black Sea, Eastern Anatolia, Mediterranean, Aegean and Marmara regions formed a relative strict group together. Central Anatolian honeybee population was strongly separated from these five regions. It was observed higher number groups and strict clustering in geometric morphometric results than classical methods'. Furthermore, geometric morphometric method was more effective at 97,3 % than classical morphometry at 58,1 %. The results of the present study indicated that still native honeybee races and ecotypes have been in protected local area, although honeybee biodiversity of Turkey have been influenced by beekeeping activities. Key words: Biodiversity, Traditional morphometry, Geometric morphometry, Honey bee.