MEDIBEES Project: Disentangling diversity patterns and processes of Mediterranean Honey Bee Subspecies by Whole-Genome Sequencing
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Apis mellifera is represented by 31 presently acknowledged subspecies that are native to
Asia, Africa, and Europe. Approximately 40% of that richness evolved in the Mediterranean
region, as the result of adaptation to diverse environmental conditions. Understanding
and preserving such diversity will help to promote the honey bee’s resilience to climate
change and biotic stressors, which is the main goal of the MEDIBEES project. This goal
will be addressed by the following objectives: a) elucidate the genetic background of the
Mediterranean subspecies, b) uncover the genetic basis of their adaptation to the local
conditions, c) evaluate the respective conservation status, and d) assess their resilience to
climate change. To that end, over 1300 geo-referenced colonies representing 9 subspecies
(A. m. ligustica, A. m. siciliana, A. m. ruttneri, A. m. sahariensis, A. m. intermissa, A. m. syriaca,
A. m. anatoliaca, A. m. caucasia and A. m. meda) are being sampled in 6 Mediterranean
countries (Algeria, Italia, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta and Turkey). The samples will be
whole-genome sequenced using Illumina technology. These newly generated genome
datasets will be combined with those previously obtained for A. m. iberiensis from Spain
and Portugal, and the data will be subjected to a battery of analytical tools. Here, we
describe how the massive whole-genome dataset will be scrutinized to fully address the
MEDIBEES objectives. This project promises to generate unprecedented knowledge on the
differential vulnerability and resilience of the Mediterranean honey bee subspecies to the
main environmental stressors typical of this region.
