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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Beekeeping provides livelihood for hundreds of thousands of beekeepers in the Mediterranean area. This activity relies
on a number of different indigenous Apis mellifera subspecies, adapted to the very diverse and harsh conditions of the
region. Climate change is expected to increase the stress factors affecting bees, especially in this region, reducing both
pollination efficiency and production potential. Unfortunately, our ability to address this problem is limited by the
incomplete knowledge of the natural adaptation mechanisms developed by the different subspecies. In order to
increase the knowledge base for future selection programs to improve bee populations for environmental changes,
the MEDIBEES project is being developed. It includes 9 partners from 8 Mediterranean countries on all three shores of
the Mediterranean, covering 10 local A. mellifera subspecies, which represents a remarkable though understudied
proportion of the species genetic diversity. The project aims to: a) unravel the differential genetic background of
Mediterranean subspecies, b) understand their adaptation to local conditions, and c) characterize their resistance to
climate change. To achieve the objectives, colonies belonging to the local subspecies will be studied phenotypically to
determine their behavior under environmental conditions, covering survival, sensitivity to pests/pathogens, behavior,
physiology and reproduction which will be completed by gene expression and transcriptomic assays. In addition,
complete genomes of field and laboratory samples will be sequenced to find genes putatively involved in adaptation
and to develop new genetic tools to characterize honey bee populations according to their resistance to
environmental stress factors. This effort will encourage the use of local subspecies, to make them more attractive and
avoid importing foreign breeds, and will lay the foundation for future selection programs. Besides, the valorization of
honey by both promoting its use and developing quality labels, and the evaluation of beekeeping by-products as
modifiers of soil fertility and biota are also approached to help the beekeepers improve the sustainability of their farms
in an economical and environmental sound manner.
Description
Keywords
Honey bee subspecies Climate change
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Martín-Hernández, Raquel; Nanetti, Antonio; Pinto, M. Alice; Noureddine, Adjlane; Haddad, Nizar; Hosri, Chadi; Muz, Mustafa Necati; Zammit Mangion, Marion; Daour, Ahmad Yousef; Sagastume, Soledad; Cilia, Giovannni; Medibees Consortium (2023). MEDIBEES: Monitoring the Mediterranean honey bee subspecies and their resilience to climate change for the improvement of sustainable agro-ecosystems. In Apimondia 48th International Apicultural Congress. Chile
Publisher
Apimondia