Traditional and modern methods used in phylogenesis and protection of native middle-European bee in Poland

Abstract

In Poland, as in the whole world, there is a growing risk of extinction of the honeybee, especially the subspecies of the native middle-European bee. The main factors for the disappearance of native bee lines are environmental degradation, diseases and pathogens, as well as the introduction of imported queen bees of other breeds into domestic breeding. In this situation, it is particularly important to protect the genetic resources of native bees, which currently live in small areas covered by protection programs. The aim of this work is to review the possibilities offered by morphological and genetic examinations in the conservation breeding of native honey bee lines. It was found that the implementation of programs for the protection of native middle-European bees should be continued because of the growing risk of losing or diluting the valuable gene pool of native bees. Only the combination of phenotypic analysis and analysis based on DNA markers can effectively contribute to the protection of the native middle-European bee..