Short-term effects of controlled mating and selection on the genetic variance of honeybee populations.

ABSTRACT: Directional selection in a population yields reduced genetic variance due to the Bulmer effect. While this effect has been thoroughly investigated in mammals, it is poorly studied in social insects with biological peculiarities such as haplo-diploidy or the collective expression of traits. In addition to the natural adaptation to climate change, parasites, and pesticides, honeybees increasingly experience artificial selection pressure through modern breeding programs. Besides selection, many honeybee breeding schemes introduce controlled mating. We investigated which individual effects selection and controlled mating have on genetic variance. We derived formulas to describe short-term changes of genetic variance in honeybee populations and conducted computer simulations to confirm them. Th

SUBMITTER: Du M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8102520 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature