Genetic Diversity of Bee Ecotypes in Turkey and Evidence for Geographical Differences

Abstract

Honeybees collected from 56 different areas of Turkey were analysed, using 12 morphometric characters. The multivariate statistical analysis of data and discriminant function analysis established seven different ecotypes spreading according to different coordinates of regions. UPGMA dendrogram based on the Mahalonobis distance showed that the studied colonies were clustered in four main regional groups like A. in. anatoliaca in central Anatolia, A.m. caucasica in the northern Anatolia, A. meda in southern and south-eastern Anatolia and A. in. carnica in the European part of Turkey.