title: Population structuring of the ubiquitous stingless bee Tetragonisca angustula in southern Brazil as revealed by microsatellite and mitochondrial markers.
abstract: Tetragonisca angustula is one of the most widespread stingless bees in the Neotropics. This species swarms frequently and is extremely successful in urban environments. In addition, it is one of the most popular stingless bee species for beekeeping in Latin America, so nest transportation and trading is common. Nest transportation can change the genetic structure of the host population, reducing inbreeding and increasing homogenization. Here, we evaluate the genetic structure of 17 geographic populations of T. angustula in southern Brazil to quantify the level of genetic differentiation between populations. Analyses were conducted on partially sequenced mitochondrial genes and 11 microsatellite loci of 1002 workers from 457 sites distributed on the mainland and on 3 islands. Our results show that T. angustula populations are highly differentiated as demonstrated by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite markers. Of 73 haplotypes, 67 were population-specific. MtDNA diversity was low in 9 populations but microsatellite diversity was moderate to high in all populations. Microsatellite data suggest 10 genetic clusters and low level of gene flow throughout the studied area. However, physical barriers, such as rivers and mountain ranges, or the presence or absence of forest appear to be unrelated to population clusters. Factors such as low dispersal, different ecological conditions, and isolation by distance are most likely shaping the population structure of this species. Thus far, nest transportation has not influenced the general population structure in the studied area. However, due to the genetic structure we found, we recommend that nest transportation should only occur within and between populations that are genetically similar.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão 277 - sala 320, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.|Behaviour and Genetics of Social Insects Lab, School of Life and Environmental Sciences A12, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Flávio O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Francisco
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão 277 - sala 320, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leandro R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Santiago
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão 277 - sala 320, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Yuri M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Mizusawa
authors.affiliation: Behaviour and Genetics of Social Insects Lab, School of Life and Environmental Sciences A12, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Benjamin P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Oldroyd
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão 277 - sala 320, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Arias
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000235:genetics*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001938:Brazil; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000737:chemistry*; D051456:Gene Flow; D014644:Genetic Variation; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D058974:Phylogeography
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial
keywords: Meliponini; genetic structure; islands; microsatellites; mtDNA; nest transportation