title: Bee's morphometrics and behavior in response to seasonal effects from ecoregions.
abstract: In the present study, we used morphological and behavioral analyses to assess the effects of seasonality and morphoclimatic patterns on the morphology, behavior, and distribution of 71 colonies of Africanized honey bees in 3 distinct ecoregions (Zona da Mata, Agreste, and Sertão) within the State of Sergipe, north-eastern Brazil. We found a high rate of gene flow among the studied colonies. However, there were pronounced morphological differences among localities and ecoregions, and body shape (r = 0.06239; P = 0.05) and size (P < 0.001) varied with altitude. Regional groups were separated by phenotypic plasticity, rather than genetic divergence. We also found a significant difference in the hygienic behavior of these populations between the dry and rainy seasons (P = 0.022; α = 0.05) and between ecoregions (P = 0.001; α = 0.05). The main modulator of hygienic behavior was the influence of temperature (ρ = 0.065; P = 0.471; α = 0.05) and altitude (ρ = -0.294; P = 0.001; α = 0.05) on rainfall (ρ = 0.274; P = 0.002; α = 0.05). This supports the hypothesis that environmental factors influence the expression of hygienic behavior trait. The influence of environmental factors on the morphology, behavior, and distribution of Africanized honey bees, together with the identified polyphenisms, indicate high genetic variability within these populations that can be exploited in future bee handling and breeding programs.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia e Recursos Naturais, Laboratório de Genética e Conservação de Recursos Naturais, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil.
authors.forename: A R S
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Laboratório de Genética e Conservação de Recursos Naturais.
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Gradução em Saúde e Ambiente, Laboratório de Estudos Biológicos e Produtos Naturais, Instituto de Tecnologia e Pesquisa, Universidade Tiradentes, Aracaju, SE, Brasil.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Gramacho
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética, Biodiversidade e Conservação, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Jequié, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Nunes
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D049628:Body Size; D051456:Gene Flow; D014644:Genetic Variation; D010641:Phenotype; D012621:Seasons