University of Isfahan Taxonomy and Biosystematics 3115-9001 14 53 2023 01 21 A Study of Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L. 1758) Population in Some Regions in Northwest Iran Using the Geometric Morphometric Method مطالعۀ جمعیتی زنبور عسل (Apis mellifera L. 1758) در برخی مناطق شمال غرب ایران با روش مورفومتریک هندسی 113 130 27573 10.22108/tbj.2023.137283.1228 EN Zahra Zaboli B.Sc Student, Department of Plant and Animal Biology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran Roohollah Abbasi Assistant Professor, Department of Plant and Animal Biology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran Journal Article 2023 04 08 The honey bee is one of the most economically important insect species due to its crucial role in the pollination of agricultural and non-agricultural plants, as well as its direct product contributions. The western honey bee, Apis mellifera, now considered a cosmopolitan species due to its widespread distribution by humans, originated in Africa, Europe, and West Asia. This study aimed to evaluate the diversity of this bee in parts of northwest Iran. Worker bees were collected from six study stations in West Azerbaijan and East Azerbaijan provinces and assessed using the geometric morphometric method. Changes in the size and shape of the forewings and hindwings were investigated using 16 homologous landmarks at the bifurcation of the wings. Regarding the size of the forewings and hindwings, the Chahar Borj population of West Azerbaijan had the largest, while the Malekan population of East Azerbaijan had the smallest wings. Significant differences were observed between all the study stations of East Azerbaijan and those of West Azerbaijan. In terms of forewing shape, significant differences were found in all pairwise comparisons except between the populations of Sahand Mountain and Kordeh Deh village. However, for the hindwing, significant differences were observed in only three pairwise comparisons. Additionally, the regression analysis revealed that, unlike the hindwing, changes in the forewing's size and shape are interdependent, with allometry also being observed. This study demonstrates that despite the geographical proximity of the study stations, significant diversity exists in the bee populations. Introduction Bees are insects with a lineage dating back 120 million years. Honey bees include 10 species belonging to the genus Apis, of which the species Apis mellifera has become a cosmopolitan species with the help of humans. Honey bees produce valuable products for humans and play a crucial role in crop pollination. In recent years, this species has experienced a global decline due to factors such as habitat destruction, pollution, pesticides, and diseases. One aspect that can aid in the adaptation of bees and better equip them to face these challenges is genetic diversity. In this study, the morphological diversity of honey bees, which can sometimes reflect genetic diversity, was investigated in areas of northwest Iran using the geometric morphometric method. This approach is expected to provide insights into the adaptability and resilience of honey bee populations in these regions. Materials and Methods A total of 218 bees were collected from 6 study stations located in West Azerbaijan and East Azerbaijan provinces during the spring and summer of 2022 with the cooperation of beekeepers and were transferred to the laboratory and placed in ethanol. Microscopic slides of the right forewing and hindwing of 180 bees were prepared and were photographed using a stereomicroscope equipped with a camera. The number of 16 landmarks in the forewing and 5 landmarks in the hindwing were selected at the bifurcation of the wings and were landmarked using tpsDig2 software. The coordinates of the landmarks were also saved. Then, these coordinates were statistically analyzed in different pieces of software in order to detect possible differences in the shape and size of the fore and hindwings in different populations. Research Findings In terms of the size of the forewings and hindwings, comparisons between the populations revealed diversity. The average centroid size of the forewings and hindwings indicated that the Chahar Borj honey bee population had the largest wings, while the Malekan honey bee population had the smallest. A one-way non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis Analysis of Variance, along with its post hoc tests on the centroid size data of the forewings and hindwings, revealed significant differences among most of the populations. Regarding the general shape of the forewings and hindwings, various analyses, including Principal Component Analysis, Canonical Variate Analysis, and Multivariate Analysis of Variance, highlighted diversity and significant differences between the populations. Cluster Analysis of the populations based on forewing and hindwing data further divided these populations into three distinct clusters. In examining the relationship between wing size and shape, Regression Analysis indicated the presence of allometry solely in the forewing. Discussion of Results and Conclusion Economically, honey bees are one of the most important insect species. Both morphological and molecular characteristics are employed to evaluate their diversity and to differentiate between populations and species. In recent years, geometric morphometry has been increasingly utilized to distinguish between species, subspecies, and populations. In this study, geometric morphometrics was applied to assess the diversity of the forewings and hindwings of bees. The results revealed that despite the sampled populations being located in a relatively small geographical area, they exhibited a considerable amount of diversity. This finding is significant because a lack of population diversity in honey bees renders them more vulnerable to pests, diseases, and the impacts of climate change. The study underscores the importance of understanding and preserving the genetic and morphological diversity within bee populations to enhance their resilience against environmental challenges. Acknowledgment The authors wish to express their sincere gratitude to the journal officials and referees for their valuable contributions. This study was conducted with the financial support of the University of Isfahan and the award granted by the late Dr. Kazemi Ashtiani of the National Elite Foundation, dedicated to young assistant professors. We extend our heartfelt thanks to both these esteemed institutions for their support and assistance.

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