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Natural killer (NK) cells are immune cells that have attracted significant attention due to their cytotoxic properties. They are believed to be highly effective in cancer therapy. In this study, anti-KIR2DL4 (Killer cell Immunoglobulin like Receptor, 2 Ig Domains and Long cytoplasmic tail 4) was used to stimulate the NK-92 activator receptor to increase their cytotoxicity on breast cancer cell lines. Unstimulated and stimulated NK-92 cells (sNK-92) were cocultured with breast cancer (MCF-7 and SK-BR-3) and normal breast (MCF-12A) cell lines at 1:1, 1:5, and 1:10 (Target: Effector) ratios. The most effective cell cytotoxicity ratio (1:10) was used in the immunostaining and western blot assays to evaluate apoptosis pathway proteins. The sNK-92 cells showed higher cytotoxic activity on breast cancer cells than NK-92 cells. sNK-92 cells had a selective significant cytotoxicity effect on MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 cells but not MCF-12A cells. While sNK-92 cells were effective at all cell concentrations, they were most effective at a 1:10 ratio. Immunostaining and western blots showed significantly higher BAX, caspase 3, and caspase 9 protein levels in all breast cancer cell groups cocultured with sNK-92 than with NK-92 cells. NK-92 cells stimulated with KIR2DL4 showed elevated cytotoxic activity. The cytotoxic activity of sNK-92 cells on breast cancer cells is via apoptosis pathways. However, their effect on normal breast cells is limited. While the obtained data contains only basic information, additional clinical studies are needed to provide a basis for a new treatment model.

Background The honey bee (Apis mellifera) is an ecologically and economically important species that provides pollination services to natural and agricultural systems. The biodiversity of the honey bee in parts of its native range is endangered by migratory beekeeping and commercial breeding. In consequence, some honey bee populations that are well adapted to the local environment are threatened with extinction. A crucial step for the protection of honey bee biodiversity is reliable differentiation between native and nonnative bees. One of the methods that can be used for this is the geometric morphometrics of wings. This method is fast, is low cost, and does not require expensive equipment. Therefore, it can be easily used by both scientists and beekeepers. However, wing geometric morphometrics is challenging due to the lack of reference data that can be reliably used for comparisons between different geographic regions. Findings Here, we provide an unprecedented collection of 26,481 honey bee wing images representing 1,725 samples from 13 European countries. The wing images are accompanied by the coordinates of 19 landmarks and the geographic coordinates of the sampling locations. We present an R script that describes the workflow for analyzing the data and identifying an unknown sample. We compared the data with available reference samples for lineage and found general agreement with them. Conclusions The extensive collection of wing images available on the Zenodo website can be used to identify the geographic origin of unknown samples and therefore assist in the monitoring and conservation of honey bee biodiversity in Europe.

BACKGROUND The Colorado potato beetle (CPB) is the most harmful pest of potato in potato cultivation regions globally. Although it is an economically important agricultural pest, the population structure and colonization route of this species in Turkey are uncertain. We used microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers to obtain information about the population source, structure and bio-invasion route of CPB populations in Turkey. RESULTS The common single mtDNA haplotype in European CPB populations was obtained in all Turkish CPB populations based on mtDNA data analysis. However, microsatellites revealed a low level of genetic variation in CPB populations. The results of microsatellite analysis [factorial correspondence analysis (FCA), Bayesian analysis of genetic population structure (BAPS), unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) dendrogram, F-statistics and Nei's distances] indicated three groups for invasive CPB: Thrace-Marmara and Aegean; Black Sea, Central Anatolia and Mediterranean; Northeastern Anatolia. Region-specific alleles have been identified in regions, where commercial potato cultivation and insecticide use are intensive. CONCLUSION The detection of a single fixed European haplotype in all Turkish populations has proved that CPB in Turkey originated from Europe as a result of a founder event occurred in European populations. Low genetic variation was due to the short time period since the spread of CPB from America to Europe. The highest number of private alleles were found in the top commercial potato cultivation region-Central Anatolia from where the CPB populations spread to other parts of Turkey.

Beekeepers need to establish migratory apiaries to benefit from pollen and nectar source plants as in order to increase honey yield. Thus, following the flowering seasons of honey source plants has vital importance when deciding the route of migration. In this study, MODIS imagery was used to generate weekly NDVI data between 1st April to 31st August 2018, when beekeeping activities start and end in the study area. Although MODIS images have high temporal resolution, low spatial resolution (250 meters) makes them insufficient when deciding the crop types and plants. While detecting plants in natural plant areas requires high spatial resolution NDVI, Crop Coverage Registration System (CCRS) parcel-based crop coverage records can enrich the NDVI data without increasing spatial resolution in agricultural lands. Thus, the CCRS data were integrated with NDVI images for migratory beekeeping in agricultural areas as an innovation. To generate both high temporal and spatial resolution, NDVI and CCRS data were integrated together with a beekeeping suitability map to generate the apiary schedule. The results were verified with 176 existing apiary locations and production dates retrieved from field studies which revealed the existence of three seasons in the study area as early and late apiaries (in natural plant areas) and apiaries in agricultural lands. Accuracy analysis showed that 82% of the apiaries intersected with suitable locations and that apiaries in agricultural areas were detected five days earlier than in field studies and obtained more accurately than natural plant apiaries.

WOS: 000512583700001, Beekeeping activities have a rapidly increasing importance due to their derived products and their contributions to human health, biodiversity, agriculture, and pollination. Moreover, beekeeping can play a major role in supporting rural development and bringing the benefits of sustainable developments and productivity. Thus, the decision on correct apiary locations via suitability analysis techniques seems essential to sustain and increase the yield and efficiency. However, this decision-making process requires a large number of parameters including the topography of the field surrounding environment and climate conditions. At this point, Multi Criteria Decision Analysis techniques can provide efficient solutions for decision making on suitable apiary locations. In this study, suitable apiary site selection analysis for beekeeping activities via Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and The Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment of Evaluations (PROMETHEE) methods was proposed for Konya city located in Central Anatolia as a pilot application. Aspect, elevation, slope, flora, water resources, roads, railroads, settlements, electricity lines, buildings, precipitation, and natural disaster area criteria were assessed to generate beekeeping suitability for apiaries. The restrictions and requirements of beekeeping activities were specified considering expert beekeeper decisions and recent studies for the study area. The AHP and PROMETHEE suitability maps were validated with existing 461 apiary locations to be able to determine the reliability and applicability.

The distribution range of many bee species in Asia has been affected by changing climates. Ecological niche models (ENMs) have many applications for predicting the effects of such changes in climate conditions on the future species range. Tetragonula iridipennis Smith, 1854 (Apidae: Meliponini) is a tropical stingless bee distributed in some parts of the Indomalayan realm. This species is one of the most critical keystone bee pollinators across its range. We predicted its paleodistribution, current, and future ranges across the Indomalayan realm. We used the maximum entropy method to build our models in seven periods, from the last interglacial until 2070. The isothermality was the most determinant climate factor affecting the climate niche of the species. Our predictions showed that in the last glacial maximum and previous interglacial periods the extent of the climatically suitable habitats of the species was probably broader than in the current scenario. The climatic suitability of the existing range will be expanded geographically in some parts of southeast Asia and northern India by 2070 under climate scenarios. The lack of significant climate niche divergence among the populations studied, except for Indonesia-Sri Lanka, results in uniformity of the climate conditions across the species’ range and recent range expansion. With the projected spatial patterns of the climate niche of the species, future management efforts for the effective conservation of the species will be facilitated by identifying potentially suitable habitats and areas where it is more likely to survive.

Previous molecular studies of the wide-ranging Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx focused mainly on its northern Palearctic populations, with the consequence that the reconstruction of this species' evolutionary history did not include genetic variation present in its southern Palearctic distribution. We sampled a previously not considered Asian subspecies (L. l. dinniki), added published data from another Asian subspecies (L. l. isabellinus), and reassessed the Eurasian lynx mtDNA phylogeny along with previously published data from northern Palearctic populations. Our mitogenome-based analyses revealed the existence of three major clades (A: Central Asia, B: SE Europe/SW Asia, C: Europe and Northern Asia) and at least five lineages, with diversification in Lynx lynx commencing at least 28kyr earlier than hitherto estimated. The subspecies L. l. isabellinus harbors the most basal matriline, consistent with the origin of Lynx lynx in this subspecies' current range. L. l. dinniki harbors the second most basal matriline, which is related to, and may be the source of, the mtDNA diversity of the critically endangered Balkan lynx L. l. balcanicus. Our results suggest that the Anatolian peninsula was a glacial refugium for Eurasian lynx, with previously unconsidered implications for the colonization of Europe by this species. RSGF [11447-1]; DAAD grant; Leibniz-IZW research grant; TUB.ITAK MAM-NCNP project [109G016] Accommodation for DM in Nallihan was partially provided by Nallihan Turizm Gonulluleri Dernegi and per diems by the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks (NCNP), Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Sample collection in Ankara was supported by the RSGF 11447-1 project. DM was also supported by a DAAD grant and a Leibniz-IZW research grant. Support for field work in Antalya was provided by the TUB.ITAK MAM-NCNP project 109G016 for Conservation and Management of Large Mammals in Turkey. WOS:000689079800001 2-s2.0-85112472155 PubMed: 34440390

The Colorado potato beetle (CPB) is the most harmful pest of potato in potato cultivation regions globally. Although it is an economically important agricultural pest, the population structure and colonization route of this species in Turkey are uncertain. We used microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers to obtain information about the population source, structure and bio-invasion route of CPB populations in Turkey.The common single mtDNA haplotype in European CPB populations was obtained in all Turkish CPB populations based on mtDNA data analysis. However, microsatellites revealed a low level of genetic variation in CPB populations. The results of microsatellite analysis [factorial correspondence analysis (FCA), Bayesian analysis of genetic population structure (BAPS), unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) dendrogram, F-statistics and Nei's distances] indicated three groups for invasive CPB: Thrace-Marmara and Aegean; Black Sea, Central Anatolia and Mediterranean; Northeastern Anatolia. Region-specific alleles have been identified in regions, where commercial potato cultivation and insecticide use are intensive.The detection of a single fixed European haplotype in all Turkish populations has proved that CPB in Turkey originated from Europe as a result of a founder event occurred in European populations. Low genetic variation was due to the short time period since the spread of CPB from America to Europe. The highest number of private alleles were found in the top commercial potato cultivation region-Central Anatolia from where the CPB populations spread to other parts of Turkey. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background With numerous endemic subspecies representing four of its five evolutionary lineages, Europe holds a large fraction of Apis mellifera genetic diversity. This diversity and the natural distribution range have been altered by anthropogenic factors. The conservation of this natural heritage relies on the availability of accurate tools for subspecies diagnosis. Based on pool-sequence data from 2145 worker bees representing 22 populations sampled across Europe, we employed two highly discriminative approaches (PCA and F-ST) to select the most informative SNPs for ancestry inference. Results Using a supervised machine learning (ML) approach and a set of 3896 genotyped individuals, we could show that the 4094 selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) provide an accurate prediction of ancestry inference in European honey bees. The best ML model was Linear Support Vector Classifier (Linear SVC) which correctly assigned most individuals to one of the 14 subspecies or different genetic origins with a mean accuracy of 96.2% +/- 0.8 SD. A total of 3.8% of test individuals were misclassified, most probably due to limited differentiation between the subspecies caused by close geographical proximity, or human interference of genetic integrity of reference subspecies, or a combination thereof. Conclusions The diagnostic tool presented here will contribute to a sustainable conservation and support breeding activities in order to preserve the genetic heritage of European honey bees. European CommissionEuropean CommissionEuropean Commission Joint Research Centre [2013.1.3-02, 613960]; Basque GovernmentBasque Government [IT1233-19] The SmartBees project was funded by the European Commission under its FP7 KBBE programme (2013.1.3-02, SmartBees Grant Agreement number 613960) https://ec.europa.eu/research/fp7.MP was supported by a Basque Government grant (IT1233-19). The funders provided the financial support to the research, but had no role in the design of the study, analysis, interpretations of data and in writing the manuscript. WOS:000614429400001 2-s2.0-85100413967 PubMed: 33535965

This is the fifth and final issue of the 60th volume of the Journal of Apicultural Research (JAR) - an excellent opportunity to reflect on the highlights in honey bee research and revise the latest developments of our journal. In this extended editorial, we briefly review the importance of JAR in a historical context, followed by the latest developments in the field of honey bee research in terms of main contributors and topics. Then, we look into the latest developments of JAR regarding its impact. Finally, we share our view on the future topics in bee research and conclude by thanking all involved parties for the ongoing success of JAR.

In recent years many bee species have expanded/contracted their ranges in response to natural or human-induced changes in habitats. Therefore, identifying suitable habitats and evaluating connectivity between them is crucial for the conservation of species. Species distribution models (SDMs) and connectivity algorithms are the main tools currently available to provide knowledge of species potential to shift/expand their ranges. We aimed to identify the core habitats of Apis florea and evaluate connectivity between populations. We carried out a multi-level modeling framework to predict an ensemble model of habitat suitability of the species in three critical months (May, October, and January) based on (1) only the climatic variables; (2) both climatic and environmental data. Then, we used the concept of circuit theory to evaluate potential linkages between core habitats. Spatial patterns of suitable habitats and connectivity between them varied across months. Potential habitats of the species appeared to be strongly influenced by the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), croplands, village density, and water vapor pressure. Most of the predicted core habitats and connectivity were found in the western half of the species range in May due to the abundance of nectar and pollen in habitats. Contrary to the western parts, core habitats in eastern regions appeared to be fragmented with limited connectivity. Our results provided the first map of connectivity for A. florea that could improve the understanding of the distribution of red dwarf honey bees and contribute to conservation strategies to protect core areas for this keystone pollinator species.

Two new cytotoxic 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives have been synthesized and characterized. Their biological activities as cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activities and inhibitory activities against DNA-polymerase were evaluated. The interactions of compounds with double-stranded- and quadruple-DNA have been studied by UV-Vis, fluorescent intercalator displacement, competition dialysis, circular dichroism and the findings were compared with the parent naphthalimide and the other compounds. The results show that both compounds (1 and 2) and the parent compound NI have strong cytotoxic activities against Beas-2B, MCF-7, HepG2 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines, antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 and inhibitory activities towards Taq-polymerase and transcriptase. These novel cationic compounds 1 and 2 can stabilize G-quadruplexes DNA according to thermal denaturation experiments, they change the 3D structure of the DNA (see details in CD experiments) and they exhibit different binding affinities for q-DNA and ds-DNA revealed by spectrophotometric titrations and competitive dialysis studies.

D. Kauhausen-Keller et al. carried out morphometric studies on the micro taxonomy of the Apis mellifera species. Geometric morphometrics analysis of wing shape could be used as a reliable and powerful tool to discriminate among honey bee subspecies, to evaluate and resolve the subspecific taxonomy of honey bees, and may have advantages over classical morphometry. The best approach would be to bring together morphometric and genetic methods to help answer questions of systematics and taxonomy in many insect groups, including A. mellifera. The chapter presents classical morphometric and geometric morphometric studies on the lineages and subspecies of the European honey bee, A. mellifera. Classical morphometry, based on measurement of morphometric characters, has been widely used to first distinguish the subspecies and then group them into evolutionary lineages. The earlier methods of classifying honey bees were based mainly on qualitative descriptions of morphology.

Bal arıları, (Apis mellifera) hemen hemen tüm bireylerde aynı damar oluşumunun genel bir modelini gösteren iki çift zararlı kanada sahiptir. Kanat hücrelerinin şekilleri ile birlikte kanat damarı oluşumu, bal arısı taksonomisi çalışmaları için morfometrik karakter olarak kullanılmıştır. Bununla birlikte, bu genel damar yapısına ek olarak, bilinmeyen nedenlerle bazı bireylerde, ekstra damar oluşumları, damar bağlantıları veya mevcut damarlarda belirli bir parça kaybı görülebilir. Bu çalışmada amacımız, Türkiye'nin farklı bölgelerindeki bal arısı populasyonlarının kanatlarında düzensiz damar anomalilerini araştırmaktır. Çalışmada Türkiye'de 23 ilden toplam 6681 işçi bal arısı kullanılmıştır. Anomalileri görselleştirmek için, işçi arı bireylerinin sol kanatları üzerindeki damarlarda yapısal farklılıklar fotoğraflanmıştır. Bal arısı örneklerinde, kanat damarlarında farklı tipte oluşumlar gözlenmiştir; Yeni damar oluşumları bağlantı noktaları veya eksik damarlar gibi. Toplam 13 farklı damar anomalisi tespit edilmiştir. En yaygın iki oluşum, sırasıyla marjinal hücrenin dış kenarında (oluşum 2) ve 2rs-m çapraz damarının dış yüzeyinin arka çeyreğinde (oluşum 1) meydana gelmiştir. 2rs-m çapraz damarının dış yüzeyinin arka çeyreğinde meydana gelen damar (oluşum 1) en yüksek Karadeniz Bölgesi bal arısı populasyonlarında görülmüştür. Ek olarak oluşan en yaygın damar (oluşum 2) ise Ege Bölgesi bal arısı populasyonlarında en yüksek oranda kaydedilmiştir. Kanat damarlanmasındaki diğer bozuklukların düşük oranda olduğu tespit edilmiştir.

Two new cytotoxic 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives have been synthesized and characterized. Their biological activities as cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activities and inhibitory activities against DNA-polymerase were evaluated. The interactions of compounds with double-stranded- and quadruple-DNA have been studied by UV-Vis, fluorescent intercalator displacement, competition dialysis, circular dichroism and the findings were compared with the parent naphthalimide and the other compounds. The results show that both compounds (1 and 2) and the parent compound NI have strong cytotoxic activities against Beas-2B, MCF-7, HepG2 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines, antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 and inhibitory activities towards Taq-polymerase and transcriptase. These novel cationic compounds 1 and 2 can stabilize G-quadruplexes DNA according to thermal denaturation experiments, they change the 3D structure of the DNA (see details in CD experiments) and they exhibit different binding affinities for q-DNA and ds-DNA revealed by spectrophotometric titrations and competitive dialysis studies.

The square-planar heteroleptic Pt(II) coordination compound [Pt(bpy)(dicnq)](NO 3 ) 2 (1) and the quaternized dicnq ligand, namely 12,13-dicyano-5,6-dihydrodipyrazino[2,3-f:1',2',3',4'-lmn][1,10]phenanthroline-4,7-diium dibromide (2) (Fig. 1) were synthesized and fully characterized by means of FTIR, NMR, MALDI-TOF MS and the purity was confirmed by CHN analyses. The DNA binding profiles of 1 and 2 were identified in an identical condition. The biological activities of these compounds were investigated by the assays of transcription and replication inhibition, cytotoxic and antimicrobial activity. The result of this study indicates that, both compounds strongly bind to DNA via intercalation but only 1 has a strong nuclease activity. The coordination compound of dicnq (1) binds to the DNA only slightly stronger than the quaternized form of dicnq (2), and is more potent as an inhibitor of transcription and replication and therefore, 1 has more potential as an anticancer agent but the compounds did not show cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer, and DLD-1 colon cancer cell lines it was found that they only had activities against HepG2 liver cancer cell line with following IC 50 values; 94.75 and 159.60 µM for 1 and 2, respectively. In addition, tested bacteria are more susceptible to compound 1. These biological activities of 1 may strongly be due to its ability to digest DNA as a chemical nuclease. According to this study, the quaternization of the ligand does not make biologically more active than the coordination compound of the same ligand in this case. The compound (1) is worth further investigation for its antitumor activities. © 2019 Elsevier Inc., 2015-72118496-13, We are grateful for the financial support of Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University with grant # 2015-72118496-13. We thank to Ms. Tuğba Demiray and Ms. Sena (Apaydın) Hasanoğlu for the technical contribution to the project. Appendix A

WOS: 000427944600001, We investigated cell shape differentiation among Apis florea populations distributed in four states (Hormuzgan-Bushehr-Khuzestan-Ilam states) of Iran using elliptic Fourier analysis (EFA - outline-based geometric morphometric analysis) on all forewing cells. Outline-based analysis was performed on all closed cells on the forewings of 114 A. florea colonies from 13 locations in Iran. According to the statistical analysis of each cell shape, the most efficient cells to discriminate populations were 2nd cubital, 3rd submarginal and marginal cells. Discriminant Function Analysis of Fourier coefficients (FCs) for each cell resulted in two clusters: southern A. florea populations from lower latitude (Hormuzgan state); and the rest of the populations from higher latitude (Ilam, Khuzestan, Bushehr state) with different differential discrimination values (1st submarginal cell=75.4%, 2nd submarginal cell=86.0%, 1st medial cell and 2nd medial cell=86.8%, marginal cell=88.6%, 3rd submarginal cell=90.4%, 2nd cubital cell=92.1%). This study showed that EFA has been functional and effective for distinguishing A. florea populations based on the wing cell shapes. The outline-based geometric morphometric applied in our study has been as successful as the other morphometric approaches such as standard morphometric and landmark-based geometric morphometric in previous studies. Se investigo la diferenciacion de las celdillas alares en poblaciones de Apis florea, distribuidas en cuatro estados (Hormuzgan, Bushehr, Khuzestan e Ilam) de Iran usando el analisis eliptico de Fourier (EFA, analisis de morfometria geometrica basada en trazos) de todas las celdillas de las alas anteriores. El analisis basado en trazos fue llevado a cabo en todas las celdillas cerradas de las alas anteriores de 114 colonias de A. florea en 13 localizaciones distintas de Iran. Segun el analisis estadistico de la forma de cada celdilla, las celdillas mas adecuadas para discriminar las poblaciones son la segunda cubital, la tercera submarginal y la celdilla marginal. Los coeficientes del analisis discriminativo de funciones de Fourier (FCs) para cada celdilla formaron dos clusteres: las poblaciones de A. florea del sur, de latitudes bajas (estado de Hormuzgan); y el resto de poblaciones de latitudes altas (Ilam, Khuzestan y Bushehr) con un diferente valor de discriminacion diferencial (1 celdilla submarginal = 75.4%, 2 celdilla submarginal = 86.0%, 1 celdilla media y 2 celdilla media = 86.8%, celdilla marginal = 88.6%, 3 celdilla submarginal = 90.4%, 2 celdilla cubital= 92.1%). Este estudio muestra que el EFA es util y efectivo para distinguir las poblaciones de A. florea basandose en la forma de sus celdillas alares. El analisis de la morfometria geometrica basada en trazos aplicado en nuestro estudio ha sido tan exitoso como otros metodos morfometricos utilizados en estudios previos, como la morfometria estandar y la morfometria geometrica basada en puntos.

BACKGROUND In the Mediterranean basin, organophosphate (OP) insecticides have been used intensively to control olive fly populations. Acetylcholinesterase (Ace) is the molecular target of OP insecticides, and three resistance-associated mutations that confer different levels of OP insensitivity have been identified. In this study, genotypes of olive fly Ace were determined in field-collected populations from broad geographical areas in Turkey. In addition, the levels of asymmetry of wing and leg characters were compared in these populations. RESULTS Our study revealed the existence of a genetically smooth stratification pattern in OP resistance allele distribution in the olive fly populations of Turkey. In contrast to earlier findings, the frequency of Δ3Q was found to be lower in the Aegean region, where the populations have been subjected to high selection pressure. Results based on the morphological differences among the samples revealed a similar pattern for both sides and did not demonstrate a clear separation. CONCLUSION The frequencies and geographic range of resistance alleles indicate that they were selected in the Aegean coast of Turkey and then spread westward towards Europe. One possible explanation for the absence of morphological asymmetry in olive fly samples might be the presence of modifier allele(s) that compensate for the increase in asymmetry. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry

International audience; AbstractWithin the western honey bee (Apis mellifera), there are more than 20 recognised subspecies. It is well known that these subspecies differ in their wing venation patterns. However, there is a demand for efficient tools to identify honey bee subspecies, ecotypes, populations or hybrids. The aim of this study was to develop a fast and easy identification method based on analysing forewing vein patterns of honey bees by geometric morphometrics. Reference samples for the subspecies were obtained from the Morphometric Bee Data Bank in Oberursel, Germany. These contained 187 honey bee colonies allocated into 25 subspecies from four evolutionary lineages. The identification of evolutionary lineages of honey bees based on forewing venations proved to be highly reliable, which confirms earlier studies. The accuracy of honey bee subspecies identification was less consistent and ranged from 100 to 50% and was particularly low in African honey bees. The obtained identification data were exported to the IdentiFly computer software, which is freely available.

The genus Rosa L. (Rosaceae) is an important ornamental crop with a high economic value in floriculture, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. Turkey is an important country in rose cultivation with unique species and cultivars, especially for rose oil production. Breeding programs of different rose genotypes are crucial for the development of new commercial varieties. In this study, genetic relationships among the old rose cultivars locally grown in Isparta were assessed by DNA fingerprinting. Inter-simple sequence repeats markers (ISSRs) were used to investigate the genetic diversity among nineteen locally grown rose genotypes. Nineteen ISSR primers yielded a total of 413 scorable amplified fragments. Nei?s genetic identity values ranged from 0.545 to 0.951. Nei?s genetic distance was used to construct a dendrogram using the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) cluster analysis. The dendrogram grouped the nineteen rose genotypes into four distinct clusters, and the principal coordinate analysis revealed similar genetic groups. The results confirmed the usefulness of ISSR markers to assess the genetic diversity among the selected old rose genotypes for genetic conservation and plant improvement.

The honeybee Apis mellifera has major ecological and economic importance. We analyze patterns of genetic variation at 8.3 million SNPs, identified by sequencing 140 honeybee genomes from a worldwide sample of 14 populations at a combined total depth of 634×. These data provide insight into the evolutionary history and genetic basis of local adaptation in this species. We find evidence that population sizes have fluctuated greatly, mirroring historical fluctuations in climate, although contemporary populations have high genetic diversity, indicating the absence of domestication bottlenecks. Levels of genetic variation are strongly shaped by natural selection and are highly correlated with patterns of gene expression and DNA methylation. We identify genomic signatures of local adaptation, which are enriched in genes expressed in workers and in immune system- and sperm motility-related genes that might underlie geographic variation in reproduction, dispersal and disease resistance. This study provides a framework for future investigations into responses to pathogens and climate change in honeybees.

This is an investigation into massive honey bee losses and corresponding fall in honey production which took place in Iran during a six year period.

Materials and methods: The number of children with T1DM and the total number of children at the schools were defined in cooperation with the Diyarbakir Provincial Education Directorate. T1DM prevalence was calculated with the obtained data. Results: The number of school children 6-18 years old with T1DM in Diyarbakir was 176; and the total number of school children was 419,526. The prevalence of T1DM was found as 0.42/1000. Of the T1DM patients, 94 (53.4%) were female and 82 (46.6%) were male; the female-to-male ratio was 1.2/1. The prevalence of females (0.47/103) was higher than that of males (0.37/103). It was 0.47/103 in the city center of Diyarbakir, higher than that calculated in the other districts of the city (0.35/103). Conclusion: The defined prevalence of T1DM in school children 6-18 years old in Diyarbakir in the Southeastern Anatolian Region of Turkey is higher than the prevalence reported from Ankara in 1993 and is lower than the prevalence reported from Istanbul in 2009. Results indicated variability in T1DM frequency among regions of Turkey.

Daphnia is a freshwater zooplankton species with controversial taxonomy due to its high morphological variation linked to environmental factors and inter-specific hybridization and polyploidy in some groups. The aim of the present study is to examine molecular diversity of some Daphnia species in Turkey and to establish DNA barcodes of Turkish Daphnia species. Sequence analysis was performed using 540 bp region of cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene of mitochondrial DNA. A total of 34 haplotypes have been identified for Turkey. Daphnia pulex complex was divided into two clades with 16.1% sequence divergence according to molecular taxonomy based on Kimura 2-parameter. The clade which was molecularly diverged from Daphnia pulex with 16.1% sequence divergence was found to show 99% similarity with Daphnia cf. pulicaria (sensu Alonso 1996) instead of Daphnia pulicaria Forbes, 1893. Furthermore, this study has contributed to Turkish zoogeography by demonstrating the distribution of Daphnia species in Turkey.

WOS: 000393307200217, PubMed ID: 26540489, The bank vole, Myodes glareolus, lives in deciduous forests throughout the Palearctic region. In Turkey, this species is distributed only in northern Anatolia (the Black Sea region) where these forests exist. This study reveals genetic differentiation among bank vole populations based on two regions of mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome b and D-loop). Populations in northern Anatolia are divided into two genetic lineages (the "eastern" and "western Black Sea" lineages) by the Kizilirmak Valley. While the western Black Sea lineage is close to the Balkan lineage, in accordance with their geographical proximities, surprisingly, the Uludag lineage, also situated in Western Turkey appears related to the eastern Black Sea population. The divergence time analyses suggest a separation between the Balkan and Turkish groups around 0.26 Mya, whereas the split between the eastern and western Black sea lineages appeared a little bit later (0.20 Mya). Our results suggest that regional refuges existed for this species in Turkey and that small-scale habitat fragmentations led to genetic differentiations between Myodes populations., Scientific Research Projects Office of the Ankara University-BAPRO [09B4240001], This study was sponsored by the Scientific Research Projects Office of the Ankara University-BAPRO (Project: 09B4240001).

Past climatic fluctuations influenced forest habitats and impacted heavily the distribution of forest species, such as the edible dormouse, by changing the distribution and composition of forests themselves. Such effects may be valid for ongoing climate change as well. To improve our understanding of the edible dormouse's history and how it responded to changes in its environment, we investigated its variation across the understudied zone of Northern Turkey using two complementary markers of differentiation: the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene for genetics, and size and shape of the first upper molar for phenotypic differences. Genetic and morphometric results were strongly discrepant. Genetic analyses evidenced an amazing homogeneity throughout the Eurasian range of the edible dormouse, whereas morphometrics pointed to a complex, step-wise differentiation along the Black Sea coast, the main signal being an opposition between Easternmost and Westernmost Turkish dormice. The genetic homogeneity suggests that this phenotypic differentiation is not the inheritance of glacial refuges, but the consequence of a more recent post-glacial isolation. The transition between the European and Asian groups is located eastwards from the Marmara straits, undermining its claimed role as an efficient barrier but stressing the importance of climatic and vegetational factors. A secondary differentiation between populations from the Central Black Sea coast and Easternmost regions was evidenced, attributed to a complex interplay of climatic, topographic, anthropogenic, and ecological factors. Turkey, at the crossroad of European and Asian species, heavily impacted by the current global change including climatic and anthropogenic factors, appears of importance for understanding the historical dynamics of differentiation and exchanges between populations that shaped the current distribution of Eurasian species and their future survival. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 107, 611–623.

Colony defence differences between two honey bee subspecies Apis mellifera cypria and A. m. caucasica are reported. A. m. cypria formed significantly (P < 0.001) more defensive balls of bees covering intruders than A. m. caucasica in response to a predatory wasp attack. Although there were differences in ball formation, the number of bees attacking the wasp did not differ in the balls that were formed (P > 0.10). In addition to ball formation, A. m. cypria was tested for differences in frequency of attacking, shaking, shimmering, line formation and lunging when confronted with a live tethered wasp, dead tethered wasp or just the tethering line. Only the dead wasp elicited differential response. It is suggested that these difference in anti-predator behaviour are related to the high predation risks of A. m. cyrpria. Caucasian bees and their hybrids do not face to such wasp predation due to the cool weather in the Caucasus region. National Science Foundation (NSF) - DBI 0552717

The wildcat Felis silvestris is a protected species in Turkey but the lack of information on its status is an obstacle to conservation initiatives. To assess the status of the species we interviewed local forestry and wildlife personnel and conducted field surveys in selected sites in northern, eastern and western Turkey during 2000–2007. In January–May 2006 we surveyed for the wildcat using 16 passive infrared-trigged camera traps in Yaylacı k Research Forest, a 50-km2 forest patch in Yenice Forest in northern Turkey. A total sampling effort of 1,200 camera trap days over 40 km2 yielded photo-captures of eight individual wildcats over five sampling occasions. Using the software MARK to estimate population size the closed capture–recapture model M0, which assumes a constant capture probability among all occasions and individuals, best fitted the capture history data. The wildcat population size in Yaylacı k Research Forest was estimated to be 11 (confidence interval 9–23). Yenice Forest is probably one of the most important areas for the long-term conservation of the wildcat as it is the largest intact forest habitat in Turkey with little human presence, and without human settlements, and with a high diversity of prey species. However, it has been a major logging area and is not protected. The future of Yenice Forest and its wildcat population could be secured by granting this region a protection status and enforcing environmental legislation.

We studied the population structure of Apis florea using geometric morphometrics of wing shape. We found that the populations from different states were significantly (P

WOS: 000242565000022, PubMed: 17195677, We determined the map position of phosphoglucomutase (Pgm) locus on autosome IV of housefly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), by using three and five point linkage test crosses. Test strains had visible mutant markers (car, bwb, cyw, and aabys). We analyzed 1,738 offspring in total from two groups of single-pair matings by electrophoresis. Here, we report the linkage of Pgm locus to autosome IV loci curly wing (cyw) and yellow eyes (ye) with recombination frequency of 16.9 and 1.1%, respectively. We combined the distances calculated from this study and the previously published data. An updated linkage map of the M. domestica L. Autosome IV was drawn based on combined data in terms of real map units obtained from the mapping function.

We determined the map position of phosphoglucomutase (Pgm) locus on autosome IV of housefly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), by using three and five point linkage test crosses. Test strains had visible mutant markers (car, bwb, cyw, and aabys). We analyzed 1,738 offspring in total from two groups of single-pair matings by electrophoresis. Here, we report the linkage of Pgm locus to autosome IV loci curly wing (cyw) and yellow eyes (ye) with recombination frequency of 16.9 and 1.1%, respectively. We combined the distances calculated from this study and the previously published data. An updated linkage map of the M. domestica L. Autosome IV was drawn based on combined data in terms of real map units obtained from the mapping function.

The biogeography and intraspecific variability of the eastern cavity-nesting honeybee, Apis cerana, are not very well known. We studied the variability of this species in China using morphometrical methods together with restriction and sequence analysis of two different regions of mitochondrial DNA. Samples of A. cerana were collected from feral or traditionally managed colonies in 19 locations of the Chinese mainland, covering the main ecological regions. Worker bees from each sample were dissected and morphometric characters were measured. The data were analysed with multivariate statistical procedures. Data were supplemented by previously published Chinese samples from the Oberursel data bank and reference samples of A. cerana from adjacent countries. A mitochondrial DNA fragment containing a non-coding region was amplified and analysed with the restriction enzyme DraI. This fragment was sequenced for two samples. For a subset of samples, the subunit 2 of the mitochondrial NADH gene was amplified and sequenced. Morphometric analysis revealed a high degree of variation, strongly associated with ecological zones and correlated with geographical and climatic parameters. Two main clusters were apparent, one comprised the bees from the southern tropical seasonal rain forest region, showing strong associations to the bees of Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar. The second main cluster included the bees from the temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest region, the subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest zone, the high, cold meadow and steppe region and the North, and showed increasing similarity to the bees of Korea and Japan. In particular, the bees from Qingzang plateau, on the fringe of the Ganshu province, were set apart by their exceptional body size, darkness and pilosity. There was no variation in DraI restriction patterns within China. Sequence variation of the mitochondrial ND2 region was consistent with geographic patterns of morphological variation. Bees of the South Yunnan region were set apart by characteristically broad abdominal sterna and wax mirrors, with this locally restricted trait transcending the main transition line at the northern limit of the tropical seasonal rain forest region. This northern limit appears to correspond to the separation line between A. cerana indica and A. cerana cerana. © The Natural History Museum.

Like many lichen-forming fungi, species of the genus Rhizoplaca have wide geographical distributions, but studies of their genetic variability are limited. The information about the ITS rDNA sequences of three species of Rhizoplaca from Anatolia was generated and aligned with other species from other countries and also with the data belonging to Lecanora species. The examined species were collected from the volcanic rocks of Mount Erciyes which is located in the middle of Anatolia (Turkey). The sequence data aligned with eight other samples of Rhizoplaca and six different species of Lecanora were obtained from GenBank. The results support the concept maintained by Arup and Grube (2000) that Rhizoplaca may not be a genus separate from Lecanora. According to the phylogenetic tree, Rhizoplaca melanopthalma from Turkey with two different samples of R. melanopthalma from Arizona (AF159929, AF159934) and a sample from Austria formed a group under the same branch. R. peltata and R. chrysoleuca samples from Anatolia located in two other branches of the tree formed sister groups with the samples of the same species from different countries. Although R. peltata remained on the same branch with other samples of the same species from other countries it was placed in a different branch within the group. When the three species from Anatolia were considered alone, it was noticed that Rhizoplaca melanopthalma and Rhizoplaca peltata are phylogenetically closer to each other than Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca; the morphological characteristics also support this result. © 2006 Verlag der Zeitschrift für Naturforschung., 8, 171, 61 Firat University Scientific Research Projects Management Unit: 2004-07-05-093 Ankara Universitesi, This study was supported by Ankara University, Management of Scientific Research Projects (no. 2004-07-05-093) and also by Ankara University, Biotechnology Institute (project no. 171 and partially projects nos. 61 and 8). Finally authors the are thankful to Prof. Dr. Ender Yurdakulol for his support in every aspect of the study.

SummaryTurkish red pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) is one of the important tree species in Turkey. The species has been heavily disturbed by anthropogenic factors and fire, making it important to understand the magnitude of the impact on genetic diversity of areas reserved for seed production. To explore the extent of genetic variation in Turkish red pine seed stands, a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker system was used in the study. The estimated genic diversity for seed stands was found to range from H =0.17 (P, %of polymorphic loci =%58.7) in Çameli-Göldağ to 0.29 (P =%81.7) in Bayramiç-Karaköy seed stand though the lowest polymorphism was observed in Fındıkpınarı seed stand (P =55.8%). The total gene diversity was calculated as HT=0.34, in Turkish red pine. About 65% of the total diversity was within seed stands. No distinct pattern of genetic diversity was found according to the geography, elevation or breeding zones. The highest genetic differentiation was found in the Western Mediterranean geographic region, however, within population genetic diversity was found to be similar among different geographic regions (HS=0.22-0.24). GSTvalue calculated was high (0.35) indicating that genetic differentiation among the studied seed stands was substantial. Dendrogram constructed with genetic distance data did not yield a firm pattern with respect to geography, elevation and breeding zones. In fact, the most of the clusters in the dendrogram had very low bootstrap values, suggesting that the clusters could be refined if more populations and markers are included in the future studies. The implication of the results with respect to in situ conservation of genetic resources of the species was discussed.

32 Turkish corn accessions representing different climatic, geographic and topographic areas in Turkey were identified. Genetic variation and its pattern in three corn races (pop, flint and dent) included 32 accessions were investigated using 25 morphological and agronomic traits. Vegetative, ear and kernel related traits were significantly varied both among races and accessions within races. Variance component due to races and accessions within race were statistically significant, but the variance components due to accessions were generally made up large component of total variance and ranged from 17.17% in kernel length to 82.75% in tassel length. There were also strong and mostly positive correlations between studied agronomic traits as well as between agronomic traits and isoenzyme loci. These correlations were explained by the traditional farming practices and enzyme specificity with flint accessions since the enzyme systems such as Alcohol dehydrogenase (locus 1), Malate dehydrogenase enzyme (loci 2–3) and 6-phospho-gluconate dehydrogenase (locus-1) are generally considered to be the characteristics of flint corn race. Canonical discriminant function analysis with twenty-five morphological and agronomic traits revealed that first two canonical discriminant variables explained 68% of total variation among accessions. Two Canonical variables, in which kernel related traits were heavily weighted, correctly classify the three corn races – indicating that Turkish corn accessions maintained their racial characteristics with agronomic and morphological traits.

In the Mediterranean basin, organophosphate (OP) insecticides have been used intensively to control olive fly populations. Acetylcholinesterase (Ace) is the molecular target of OP insecticides, and three resistance-associated mutations that confer different levels of OP insensitivity have been identified. In this study, genotypes of olive fly Ace were determined in field-collected populations from broad geographical areas in Turkey. In addition, the levels of asymmetry of wing and leg characters were compared in these populations.Our study revealed the existence of a genetically smooth stratification pattern in OP resistance allele distribution in the olive fly populations of Turkey. In contrast to earlier findings, the frequency of Δ3Q was found to be lower in the Aegean region, where the populations have been subjected to high selection pressure. Results based on the morphological differences among the samples revealed a similar pattern for both sides and did not demonstrate a clear separation.The frequencies and geographic range of resistance alleles indicate that they were selected in the Aegean coast of Turkey and then spread westward towards Europe. One possible explanation for the absence of morphological asymmetry in olive fly samples might be the presence of modifier allele(s) that compensate for the increase in asymmetry.

In this study, we compared 2 different methodologies (traditional morphometrics, TM, and geometric morphometrics, GM) in order to determine their ability to discriminate the honey bee populations distributed throughout Turkey. In TM, 16 morphometric characters were measured from the forewings of different honey bee populations from Turkey. A total of 20 landmarks were utilized for the GM analysis. Multivariate statistical analysis of data obtained from the 2 methodologies showed that GM was more successful (81.5%) than TM (70.4%). While the GM method is much simpler and easier compared to the standard morphometric measurement of size characters and angles of wing venations, the discrimination ability of GM on the honey bee populations was greater than that of TM. In addition, TM is restricted to distance characters and rotation of distances; GM not only includes these measurements indirectly, but also allows for wing shape analysis using the landmark approach.

Botanical origin of the nectar predominantly affects the chemical composition of honey. Analytical techniques used for reliable honey authentication are mostly time consuming and expensive. Additionally, they cannot provide 100% efficiency in accurate authentication. Therefore, alternatives for the determination of floral origin of honey need to be developed. This study aims to discriminate characteristic Anatolian honey samples from different botanical origins based on the differences in their molecular content, rather than giving numerical information about the constituents of samples. Another scope of the study is to differentiate inauthentic honey samples from the natural ones precisely. All samples were tested via unsupervised pattern recognition procedures like hierarchical clustering and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Discrimination of sample groups was achieved successfully with hierarchical clustering over the spectral range of 1800-750 cm(-1) which suggests a good predictive capability of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and chemometry for the determination of honey floral source.

Two anchovy forms identified from their external morphology and designated as 'Silver' and 'Blue' anchovies were captured in Mersin Bay (Eastern Mediterranean Sea). Silver anchovy seemed to inhabit shallower waters (9-77 m) than Blue anchovy (majority at depths of 69-111 m). Significant differences in body shape, which was analyzed through geometric morphometrics, and in otolith shape, examined using Fourier analysis, separated the two forms. Length polymorphisms at two intron and 9 microsatellite loci showed strong genetic differences between the two forms. Mersin-Bay Blue anchovy were genetically related to Engraulis encrasicolus from the Western Mediterranean Sea. Mersin-Bay Silver anchovy possessed an original genetic composition that distinguished them from both E. encrasicolus and Engraulis albidus at the two intron loci, while presenting affinities to E. albidus based on microsatellite markers. Mersin-Bay Silver anchovy were assigned to the latter species, of which they are considered as a geographically isolated population. This is the first record of E. albidus in the Levantine basin and confirmation of its presence in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. These results have implications for the management of anchovy populations and their habitats. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [1080566, 1076066, 107T154, 106G005]; TUBITAK National Post-Doctoral Research Scholarship ProgramTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK); SeaDataNet-EU [026212]; UPGRADE BlackSeaScene-EU [226592] We are grateful to Dr. Yaisel J. Borrell for sharing microsatellite genotype data, to Dr. Dominique Ponton (IRD), Drs. Fusun Ozer and Dr. Devrim Tezcan (IMS-METU) for their help and advice, to Serdar Sakinan and other scientists who obtained and identified the anchovy samples, to Cihan Ayanoglu (METU) for running the Minitab programme, and to Allison Kideys (IMS-METU) for copy-editing the manuscript. This work was financed by the TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) projects: Small Pelagic Fishes (1080566), TARAL (1076066), TBAG (107T154) and KAMAG TURKHAYGEN-I (106G005). A.K. was supported by TUBITAK National Post-Doctoral Research Scholarship Program, SeaDataNet-EU FP6 (026212) and UPGRADE BlackSeaScene-EU FP7 (226592) projects.