European honeybees: A deep red species on the list Rodolfo Jaffé, Ingemar Fries, Robert J. Paxton, Anna-Gloria Sabatini, Robin F.A.

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1 European honeybees: A deep red species on the list Rodolfo Jaffé, Ingemar Fries, Robert J. Paxton, Anna-Gloria Sabatini, Robin F.A. Moritz Martin-Luther- Universität Halle- Wittenberg

2 Beekeeping diversity in Europe

3 Native honeybees in Europe More than 10 recognized subspecies grouped in 3 mitochontrial lineages (A, M, C) Zones of natural hybridization

4 Beekeeping survey Beekeeping statistics from 33 European countries Number of Hives Number of Beekeepers Queen importation Queen breeding Migratory beekeeping Open access data bases EU Reports Published Articles Beekeeping Organizations & Research Institutions

5 Density of managed hives France as an example No. hives = Area = km 2 Density = 2.3 hives / km 2

6 Density of managed hives North-South Increase hives (From De la Rúa et al., Apidologie)

7 Density of managed hives The North-South Increase Favorable climatic conditions facilitate beekeeping (From Jaffé et al. unpublished)

8 Density of managed hives West-East Increase (From De la Rúa et al., Apidologie)

9 Density of managed hives The West-East Increase Climate Subspecies Beekeeping? (Rs = 0.6; p < 0.001)

10 Density of managed hives Differences in apiary size: a major driver of colony density in Europe

11 Does bee breeding affect biodiversity of European honeybees? race replacement strict breeding 50 colonies 80 colonies iberica mellifera ligustica carnica 380 colonies no import no breeding no import strict breeding

12 1 Heterozygosity in honeybee populations This This is is Italian Buckfast! 0,8 0,6 0,4 0, Germany Italy Spain Breeding does not not enhance inbreeding on the the contrary? no, but but crossing import bees with with local ones enhances heterozygosity Kraus et al 2007, Dall Olio et al 2007, De La Rua et al 2002)

13 Allelic richness (corrected for sample size) German Carnica (Norderney) Germany Italy Spain Breeding policy does not not change genetic diversity? not nation wide, but but very very much so so within breeding lines! Kraus et al 2007, Dall Olio et al 2007, De La Rua et al 2002

14 Too high or too low colony density?

15 Catching drones with the Williams trap (~1 km radius)

16 Catching drones in Jonkershoek Western Cape, South Africa Determine queen genotypes using haploide drones

17 Catching drones in Jonkershoek Western Cape, South Africa Determine queen genotypes using haploide drones

18 South Africa Ezemvelo game reserve Pietermaritzburg Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve

19 Tswalu Kalahari South Africa Jonkershoek Elsenburg

20 Belfast Caher Elba Murcia 8.2 Intermesoli 8.7 Farindola Gotland (1.2) 7.1 Müritz 11.8 Halle 5.3 Hochharz 6.2 Schwarzenau 13.8 Svijcko 8.6 Popovsko 10 Al Kufrah 13.4 Leeuwfontein Farm land Nature reserve 17.3 Suikersbosrand Wild population 20.8 Ezemvelo Tswalu Pietermaritzburg 16.1 Jonkershoek 11.4 Elsenburg

21 Wild honeybee populations in Africa are: 2-4 times larger have 50% more heterozygosity are twice genetically diverse..as European population Jaffe et et al al (2009) Conservation Biology in in press

22 Al Kufrah, Libya Harz Germany 10 vs. 5 colonies per km²

23 Europe is a desert for honeybees Beekeepers are the rescue for the species in Europe but they do not compensate for the loss of colonies

24 Acknowledgements Pilar de la Rúa, Raffaele Dall Olio, Irene Muñoz & José Serrano Many collaborators who provided the beekeeping statistics of 33 countries Thank You!