The honey bee <i>Apis mellifera L.</i> biodiversity in Russia and its preservation

Abstract

Biological diversity of bee - the genetic resource in Russia, which enables maintaining homeostasis of ecosystems through pollination entomophilies plants. The biodiversity of bees in human life has ecological, social, economic and aesthetic significance. Of particular interest in the preservation of biodiversity are taxonomically isolated species and populations, not resemble others and therefore unique in their genetic constitution. These species are often endemic, that is limited to the dissemination of one area. Their extinction of will mean the loss of biodiversity. Uncontrolled introduction of bees of different species breeds and populations leads to the spread of diseases and hidden genetic defects. In the process of mass introduction of not adapted breeds of honey bees there is a loss of breed diversity of endemic populations, accompanied by a narrowing of breeding opportunities and a reduction in pollinators. Using modern methods of monitoring with the use of microsatellite analysis to improve the efficiency study of the gene pool of honeybees. Biotechnological methods of artificial insemination of Queens and cryopreservation of drone sperm in liquid nitrogen allow preserving the gene pool of endangered native breeds of honeybees. The use of these methods makes it possible to avoid polyandry and conduct controlled mating in breeding and genetic studies. Obtaining a culture of honeybee cells is promising for a more in-depth study of the interaction with intracellular infectious agents, genomic and epigenetic mechanisms of variability of this unique object.