Population Genomics and Morphology Provide Insights into the Conservation and Diversity of <i>Apis laboriosa</i>
In recent decades, honeybee populations have declined, dramatically owing to destructive honey harvesting practices and the loss of foraging grounds and nesting sites. Among them, <i>Apis laboriosa</i> Smith, 1871 (Hymenoptera, Apidae), an important pollinator species found in the Himala...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Ri Liu Xuntao Ma Longfu Zhang Kang Lai Changbin Shu Bin Wang Mingwang Zhang Mingxian Yang |
| author_facet | Ri Liu Xuntao Ma Longfu Zhang Kang Lai Changbin Shu Bin Wang Mingwang Zhang Mingxian Yang |
| author_sort | Ri Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In recent decades, honeybee populations have declined, dramatically owing to destructive honey harvesting practices and the loss of foraging grounds and nesting sites. Among them, <i>Apis laboriosa</i> Smith, 1871 (Hymenoptera, Apidae), an important pollinator species found in the Himalayan region, holds significant economic and ecological value. However, conservation efforts and intraspecific taxonomic studies regarding it have been rather limited, and thus its full geographic range remains elusive. This study is the first to research <i>A. laboriosa</i> in Sichuan. Through a systematic study integrating morphological feature analysis and genomic data, the following conclusions are drawn. Whole-genome resequencing data analysis reveals that the Sichuan population forms a new monophyletic group (Bootstraps = 100). In the past ten thousand years, the population sizes of <i>A. laboriosa</i> in four different regions of China have been decreasing rapidly. Measures should be taken to protect them across the entire distribution range, especially the populations in Tibet and Sichuan, due to their relatively large genetic differences and low intra-population genetic diversity. Based on the significant difference analysis, the following four wing vein morphological features with extremely significant differences were identified: the width of the right forewing (FB), the cubital index a/b (Ci), the forewing vein angle (E9), and the forewing vein angle (K19). These findings are expected to offer a valuable reference for future <i>A. laboriosa</i> conservation endeavors, particularly in protecting populations with a high level of genetic differentiation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c046edf1f6d24f12a9caa303ffd96352 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj-art-c046edf1f6d24f12a9caa303ffd963522025-08-20T01:56:16ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-05-0116554610.3390/insects16050546Population Genomics and Morphology Provide Insights into the Conservation and Diversity of <i>Apis laboriosa</i>Ri Liu0Xuntao Ma1Longfu Zhang2Kang Lai3Changbin Shu4Bin Wang5Mingwang Zhang6Mingxian Yang7College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Animal Sciences and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Animal Sciences and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaSichuan Provincial Animal Husbandry Master Station, Chengdu 610041, ChinaSichuan Provincial Animal Husbandry Master Station, Chengdu 610041, ChinaSichuan Provincial Animal Husbandry Master Station, Chengdu 610041, ChinaCollege of Animal Sciences and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Animal Sciences and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaIn recent decades, honeybee populations have declined, dramatically owing to destructive honey harvesting practices and the loss of foraging grounds and nesting sites. Among them, <i>Apis laboriosa</i> Smith, 1871 (Hymenoptera, Apidae), an important pollinator species found in the Himalayan region, holds significant economic and ecological value. However, conservation efforts and intraspecific taxonomic studies regarding it have been rather limited, and thus its full geographic range remains elusive. This study is the first to research <i>A. laboriosa</i> in Sichuan. Through a systematic study integrating morphological feature analysis and genomic data, the following conclusions are drawn. Whole-genome resequencing data analysis reveals that the Sichuan population forms a new monophyletic group (Bootstraps = 100). In the past ten thousand years, the population sizes of <i>A. laboriosa</i> in four different regions of China have been decreasing rapidly. Measures should be taken to protect them across the entire distribution range, especially the populations in Tibet and Sichuan, due to their relatively large genetic differences and low intra-population genetic diversity. Based on the significant difference analysis, the following four wing vein morphological features with extremely significant differences were identified: the width of the right forewing (FB), the cubital index a/b (Ci), the forewing vein angle (E9), and the forewing vein angle (K19). These findings are expected to offer a valuable reference for future <i>A. laboriosa</i> conservation endeavors, particularly in protecting populations with a high level of genetic differentiation.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/5/546<i>Apis laboriosa</i>whole-genome resequencingmitochondrial genomemorphological analysis |
| spellingShingle | Ri Liu Xuntao Ma Longfu Zhang Kang Lai Changbin Shu Bin Wang Mingwang Zhang Mingxian Yang Population Genomics and Morphology Provide Insights into the Conservation and Diversity of <i>Apis laboriosa</i> Insects <i>Apis laboriosa</i> whole-genome resequencing mitochondrial genome morphological analysis |
| title | Population Genomics and Morphology Provide Insights into the Conservation and Diversity of <i>Apis laboriosa</i> |
| title_full | Population Genomics and Morphology Provide Insights into the Conservation and Diversity of <i>Apis laboriosa</i> |
| title_fullStr | Population Genomics and Morphology Provide Insights into the Conservation and Diversity of <i>Apis laboriosa</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Population Genomics and Morphology Provide Insights into the Conservation and Diversity of <i>Apis laboriosa</i> |
| title_short | Population Genomics and Morphology Provide Insights into the Conservation and Diversity of <i>Apis laboriosa</i> |
| title_sort | population genomics and morphology provide insights into the conservation and diversity of i apis laboriosa i |
| topic | <i>Apis laboriosa</i> whole-genome resequencing mitochondrial genome morphological analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/5/546 |
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