Hr. Hepburn et Se. Radloff, BIOGEOGRAPHICAL CORRELATES OF POPULATION VARIANCE IN THE HONEYBEES (APIS-MELLIFERA L) OF AFRICA, Apidologie, 28(5), 1997, pp. 243-258
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.