BIOGEOGRAPHICAL CORRELATES OF POPULATION VARIANCE IN THE HONEYBEES (APIS-MELLIFERA L) OF AFRICA

Multivariate analyses of morphometric characteristics of worker honeyb ees from five transects through northwestern, northeastern, west centr al, southwestern and southeastern Africa yielded sequences of statisti cally defined morphoclusters (= subspecies) alternating with heterogen eous zones of introgression. All transects contain areas of significan tly high variance. High intracolonial variance indicates localised gen etic variation and out-cross matings. Regions of high intercolonial va riance occur at and between subspecific boundaries. These are typical of transitions between, and rainfall-temperature discontinuities withi n, different ecological-climatological zones. They constitute areas of ecological instability amidst otherwise contiguous populations.