Abstract
The bumblebees of the subgenus Bombus sensu strictu are a notoriously difficult taxonomic group because identification keys are based on the morphology of the sexuals, yet the workers are easily confused based on morphological characters alone. Based on a large field sample of workers putatively belonging to either B. terrestris or B. lucorum, we here test the applicability and accuracy of a frequently used taxonomic identification key for continental European bumblebees and mtDNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) that are diagnostic for queens to distinguish between B. terrestris and B. lucorum, two highly abundant but easily confused species in Central Europe. Bumblebee workers were grouped into B. terrestris and B. lucorum either based on the taxonomic key or their mtDNA RFLP. We also genotyped all workers with six polymorphic microsatellite loci to show which grouping better matched a coherent Hardy-Weinberg population. Firstly we could show that the mtDNA RFLPs diagnostic in queens also allowed an unambiguous discrimination of the two species. Moreover, the population genetic data confirmed that the mtDNA RFLP method is superior to the taxonomic tools available. The morphological key provided 45% misclassifications for B. lucorum and 5% for B. terrestris. Hence, for studies on B. terrestris we recommend to double check species identity with mtDNA RFLP analysis, especially when conducted in Central Europe.
Zusammenfassung
Die Artbestimmung bei Hummelarbeiterinnen der Untergattung Bombus sensu strictu mittles morphologischer Merkmale hat sich wiederholt als schwierig erwiesen, da morphologische Bestimmungsmerkmale zwar bei Geschlechtstieren (Königinnen und Drohnen) eine gute Unterscheidung zulassen, bei Arbeiterinnen jedoch häufig uneindeutig sind.
Basierend auf einer grossen Freilandstichprobe von B. terrestris / B. lucorum Arbeiterinnen, zwei häufige, aber schwer zu unterscheidende mitteleuropäische Arten, testen wir hier die Anwendbarkeit und diagnostische Verlässlichkeit zweier Bestimmungsmethoden. Zum Einen, die eines häufig genutzten Bestimmungsschlüssels für mitteleuropäische Hummeln, zum Anderen, mtDNA Restriktions-Fragmentlängen-Polymorphismen (RFLP), die eine Artunterscheidung bei Königinnen von B. terrestris und B. lucorum erlauben. Die Hummelarbeiterinnen wurden dabei basierend auf entweder morphologischen Merkmalen oder anhand ihrer mtDNA RFLPs zu B. terrestris oder B. lucorum zugeordnet. Alle Individuen wurden an sechs Mikrosatelliten-Loci genotypisiert um zu testen, welche der beiden Artgruppierungen (Morphologie- oder mtDNA-basiert) besser mit einer zu erwartenden Hardy-Weinberg Population übereinstimmt.
Zum Ersten konnten wir zeigen, dass die für Königinnen diagnostischen mtDNA RFLPs auch bei Arbeiterinnen eine eindeutige Artbestimmung zulassen. Darüber hinaus konnten wir durch unsere populationsgenetischen Analysen bestätigen, dass die Artbestimmung mittels mtDNA RFLPs der durch morphologische Merkmale in Präzision deutlich überlegen ist. Die Artbestimmung mittels des Bestimmungsschlüssels führte zu 45% Fehlbestimmungen bei B. lucorum, Fehlbestimmungen bei B. terrestris wurden in 5% aller Fälle gefunden. Folglich empfehlen wir die verlässliche Artbestimmung mittels genetischer Methoden bei Studien an B. terrestris, vor allem, wenn diese in Mitteleuropa durchgeführt werden und populationsgenetische Untersuchungen beinhalten.
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Wolf, S., Rohde, M. & Moritz, R.F.A. The reliability of morphological traits in the differentiation of Bombus terrestris and B. lucorum (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Apidologie 41, 45–53 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1051/apido/2009048
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/apido/2009048