Meral Kence

• Ph.D.
• Middle East Technical University

The effects of acute sublethal doses of coumaphos, an acaricide used against Varroa destructor infestation in beekeeping, on the locomotor activities of four native honeybee subspecies of Türkiye including two ecotypes (Carniolan honeybee - A. m. carnica , Syrian honeybee - A. m. syriaca , Caucasian honeybee- A. m. caucasica , and Muğla and Yığılca...

The intense admixture of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) populations at a global scale is mostly attributed to the widespread migratory beekeeping practices and replacement of queens and colonies with non-native races or hybrids of different subspecies. These practices are also common in Anatolia and Thrace, but their influence on the genetic make-up...

Intense admixture of honey bee ( Apis mellifera L.) populations is mostly attributed to migratory beekeeping practices and replacement of queens and colonies with non-native races or hybrids of different subspecies. These two practices are also heavily carried out in Anatolia and Thrace where 5 subspecies reside naturally. Here, we carried out an a...

The intense admixture of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) populations at a global scale is mostly attributed to the widespread migratory beekeeping practices and replacement of queens and colonies with non-native races or hybrids of different subspecies. These practices are also common in Anatolia and Thrace, but their influence on the genetic make-up...

We aimed to examine mechanistically the observed foraging differences across two honey bee, Apis mellifera , subspecies using the proboscis extension response assay. Specifically, we compared differences in appetitive reversal learning ability between honey bee subspecies: Apis mellifera caucasica (Pollman), and Apis mellifera syriaca (Skorikov) in...

We aimed to examine mechanistically the observed foraging differences across two honey bee, Apis mellifera , subspecies using the Proboscis Extension Response (PER) assay. Specifically, we compared differences in appetitive reversal learning ability between honey bee subspecies: Apis mellifera caucasica (Pollman), and Apis mellifera syriaca (Skorik...

We aimed to examine mechanistically the observed foraging differences across two honey bee, Apis mellifera , subspecies using the Proboscis Extension Response (PER) assay. Specifically, we compared differences in appetitive reversal learning ability between honey bee subspecies: Apis mellifera caucasica (Pollman), and Apis mellifera syriaca (Skorik...

There are at least five honey bee subspecies found in different ecological regions in Turkey, such as Carniolan Honey Bee (A. m. carnica) in temperate, north-west, Syrian Honey Bee (A. m. syriaca) in subtropical south, and Caucasian Honey Bee (A. m. caucasica) in subarctic north-east. Members of these subspecies are living in different environments...

Environmental factors such as increasing population, illumination period and hypoxia affect the phenotype of water fleas (Daphnia magna). Increasing hemoglobin amounts in water fleas’ that are subjected to hypoxia result in visible red pigmentation. According to literature, serotonin shows a reducing effect to methyl farnesoat (juvenile hormone) sy...

Honey bees face numerous biotic threats from viruses to bacteria, fungi, protists, and mites. Here we describe a thorough analysis of microbes harbored by worker honey bees collected from field colonies in geographically distinct regions of Turkey. Turkey is one of the World's most important centers of apiculture, harboring five subspecies of Apis...

Daphnia is a freshwater crustacean well-known for its indicative responses to environmental changes. One such response involves a switch from parthenogenesis to sexual reproduction. Non-optimal conditions including shortening of daylight duration, population crowding or food restriction lead to parthenogenetic generation of males instead of daughte...

Circadian rhythms in social insects are highly plastic and are modulated by multiple factors. In addition, complex behaviors such as sun-compass orientation and time learning are clearly regulated by the circadian system in these organisms. Despite these unique features of social insect clocks, the mechanisms as well as the functional and evolution...

Honey bee [Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)] genetic diversity may be the key to responding to novel health challenges faced by this important pollinator. In this study, we first compared colo- nies of four honey bee races, A. m. anatoliaca, A. m. carnica, A. m. caucasica, and A. m. syriaca from Turkey, with respect to honey storage, bee popu...

The fauna of Turkey lists the goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) as the only species of the genus Gazella, but older records reported another species of gazelle in Anatolia (either G. dorcas or G. gazella). However, the species status and the distribution of the second gazelle species have never been confirmed, and the species has been regarde...

In 2008 the COLOSS network was formed by honey bee experts from Europe and the USA. The primary objectives set by this scientific network were to explain and to prevent large scale losses of honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies. In June 2008 COLOSS obtained four years support from the European Union from COST and was designated as COST Action FA0803...

The honeybee, Apis mellifera L. is an ecologically and economically important insect species. Recent honey bee losses causing decline of bee diversity is found alarming for the pollination of both wild plant biodiversity and crop production. Therefore, determination of genetic diversity of honey bee populations is essential and will provide a valua...

Polymerase chain reaction specific for the rDNA marker for Nosema ceranae and Nosema apis was conducted on 84 Apis mellifera samples collected from 20 provinces in Turkey. N. ceranae was detected from three samples from the provinces of Artvin, Hatay, and Muğla. N. apis was detected in samples from the provinces of Sivas, Izmir, Bitlis and Gaziante...

The objective of this study was to determine esterase enzyme polymorphism in 16 natural Musca domestica L. populations from the Aegean and Mediterranean regions of Turkey by using the native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) technique. The high level of genetic variation among populations and species make esterase enzymes an important tool...

review the methodology applied in each country for discriminating between honey bee populations. Morphometric analyses (classical and geometric) and different molecular markers have been applied. Even if the approach has been similar, however, different methodologies regarding measurements, landmarks or molecular markers may have been used, as well...

Th e objective of this study was to determine esterase enzyme polymorphism in 16 natural Musca domestica L. populations from the Aegean and Mediterranean regions of Turkey by using the native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) technique. Th e high level of genetic variation among populations and species make esterase enzymes an important too...

Three experiments are described investigating whether olfactory repellents DEET and butyric acid can support the classical conditioning of proboscis extension in the honeybee, Apis mellifera caucasica (Hymenoptera: Apidae). In the first experiment DEET and butyric acid readily led to standard acquisition and extinction effects, which are comparable...

Genetic variation of honey bee populations from 9 different locations of Bulgaria was studied using 4 enzymic systems (MDH, ME, EST and ALP) corresponding to 4 genetic loci and PCR- RFLP's analysis of 16s rDNA, COI, and ND5 gene segments of mtDNA. Allozyme analysis revealed that all loci were polymorphic in almost all studied populations. The obser...

Three experiments are described investigating whether olfactory repellents DEET and butyric acid can support the classical conditioning of proboscis extension in the honeybee, Apis mellifera caucasica (Hymenoptera: Apidae). In the first experiment DEET and butyric acid readily led to standard acquisition and extinction effects, which are comparable...

We evaluated defenses against Varroa in three honey bee races, Apis mellifera caucasica, A. m. carnica, and A. m. syriaca from Artvin, Kirklareli,and Hatay respectively. Detection of hygienic behavior was carried out by observing the removal rate of freeze-killed brood from the colonies at two different locations, at METU bee common garden and thei...

Samples from seven honey bee populations; five Apis mellifera meda from Iran and two from Turkey, one belonging to A. m. meda and one to A. m. caucasica, were investigated using morphometric, mtDNA, and microsatellite analyses. Morphometric analysis revealed three distinct clusters. The first included all Iranian populations, whilst the second and...

A study that involved DNA sequencing of COI-COII intergenic region of die mitochondrial DNA genome of Apis mellifera honey bees from Turkey was conducted to determine die population genetics and phylogeographic structure of this species from seven distinct areas of Turkey. From the 132 honey bees subjected to DNA sequencing, a total of 12 mitotypes...

Many ecosystems have been under the continuous influx of both organic and inorganic xenobiotics, including organophosphorus compounds, as a result of intense agricultural and industrial activities. Biochemical biomarkers have been increasingly used in determining the effects of xenobiotics in studies aimed at assessing ecological risks on ecosystem...

We analyzed the genetic structure of 11 honeybee (Apis mellifera L) populations from Turkey and one from Cyprus using 9 microsatellite marker loci. Heterozygosity levels, mean number of alleles per population, number of diagnostic alleles, and pairwise FST values were computed for the populations studied. Heterozygosity levels were found to range b...

We analyzed the genetic structure of II honeybee (Apis mellifera L) populations from Turkey and one from Cyprus using 9 microsatellite marker loci. Heterozygosity levels, mean number of alleles per population, number of diagnostic alleles, and pairwise FST values were computed for the populations studied. Heterozygosity levels were found to range b...

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 1738 offspring in total from two groups of single-pair matings by electrophoresis. He...

We have studied mitochondrial (mt) DNA variation in 334 honey bee colonies from 7 different geographic regions of Turkey. We have evaluated Dra I restriction profiles of the CO-I CO-II intergenic region, Hinf-I and Taq-I restriction profiles of the CO-I gene and EcoR-I restriction profiles of the whole mtDNA. We obtained three different mtDNA patte...

Samples of water frogs of genus Rana from 20 localities were analyzed by using starch gel electrophoresis. Twelve loci representing nine enzymatic proteins were used, among them five loci (41.7 %) were found to be polymorphic: PGM, LDH-1, MDH-2, AAT-1 and a-GPDH. The other seven loci (58.3 %) were monomorphic: GPI, LDH-2, MDH-1, AAT-2, ME, IDH, and...

We have studied mitochondrial (mt) DNA variation in 334 honey bee colonies from 7 different geographic regions of Turkey. We have evaluated Dra I restriction profiles of the CO-I CO-II intergenic region, Hinf-I and Taq-I restriction profiles of the CO-I gene and EcoR-I restriction profiles of the whole mtDNA. We obtained three different mtDNA patte...

Honeybee colonies from Turkey, Naxcivan (Azerbaijan) and Austria were studied for morphometric and electrophoretic variation and for comparison among different subspecies. Out of six enzyme systems, four were found to be polymorphic with 14 allozymes. Discriminant function analysis of 10 morphometric variables resulted in a total of four groups. Cl...

Organophosphate insecticide (parathion/diazinon) resistance in housefly (Musca domestica L.) is associated with the change in carboxylesterase activity. The product of MdalphaE7 gene is probably playing a role in detoxification of xenebiotic esters. In our research, we have isolated, cloned and sequenced the MdalphaE7 gene from 5 different Turkish...

Organophosphate (OP) insecticides (parathion/diazinon) resistance in housefly (Musca domestica L.) is associated with the change in carboxylesterase activity. The product of alpha E7 gene, which is a member of alpha-esterase gene cluster, is probably playing a role in detoxification of the xenobiotic esters. In parathion/diazinon resistant M. domes...

Multivariate morphometric analyses revealed that the range of Rana bedriagae caralitana extends further west to include Çardak in Denizli (western Turkey). The presence of the forms caralitana and nominate bedriagae syntopically may indicate species status for the former.

Six enzyme systems were studied to determine the genetic variability in honeybee populations in Turkey. Ten morphometric characters were also measured to determine the extent of morphometric variation. Out of six enzyme systems, four were found to be polymorphic with 16 allozymes. The average heterozygosity was calculated as 0.072 ± 0.007. Morphome...

ABSTRACT Allozyme and morphometric variation in water frogs has been studied using starch gel electrophoresis and morphometric analysis of selected characters. Samples from 17 localities were analyzed for six enzymes representing nine loci. Among them four loci, PGM, LDH-1, MDH-2, and AAT-1 were found to be polymorphic. The other five loci, GPI, L...

This study aims to document geographic variation and clarify the taxonomic position of Turkish water frogs by morphometric analysis of selected characters, starch gel electrophoresis, and mating calls analysis. Multivariate morphological and bioacoustic analysis both revealed two cluster of water frog populations in the Asian part, one including fr...

We studied the competitive abilities of 2 strains of house flies, Musca domestica L., A14/WHO, a strain heterozygous for resistance gene(s), and bwb, a susceptible strain, at 4 densities 450, 900, 1,800, and 3,600 eggs per 100 g of medium in pure and mixed cultures in the absence and presence of malathion. Both genotypes exhibited lower survival, l...

The first record of Musca domestica calleva from Incekum. Antalya (Turkey) is presented. Multivariate comparison of the morphology as well as comparisons of mating behaviour and malathion resistance with other housefly populations support the diagnosis. The zoogeographical significance of this find is briefly discussed.

We investigated the effects of immigration of individuals carrying susceptibility alleles on the level of resistance in populations of the house fly, Musca domestica L., selected for malathion resistance. Two types of males, WHO/IN males (homozygous for susceptibility genes) and A14-WHO males (heterozygous for the second chromosome) were released i...

The pattern of inheritance of genes conferring resistance to malathion and genetic consequences of linkage between an autosomal male-determining factor and resistance genes on the second chromosome were investigated in a strain of house fly, Musca domestica L., selected for malathion resistance. The second and fifth chromosomes contribute significa...

Varroa is one of the most important problems of beekeeping in Turkey and in the world. In this study we compared known chemical control agent Perizin and a more recent product, HiveClean TM , containing oxalic acid, in control of Varroa in Turkey. Both HiveClean TM and Perizin TM resulted in Varroa fall proportional to the infestation levels of the...