Genomic and Morphological Insights Into the Adaptive Evolution of Honeybees in Rocky Desertification Habitats

Unlike traditional desertification, rocky desertification is a distinct form of land degradation characterized by low vegetation coverage and a high proportion of rock exposure. Honeybees are crucial pollinators and ecological restorers and have coevolved closely with plants as their primary habitat and food resource to naturally inhabit rocky desertification habitats. In this study, classical morphological analyses showed that under mild desertification conditions, honeybee body size increases, while in severely degraded habitats, their morphology resembles that of normal individuals. Whole-genome resequencing revealed clear selection effects on 19 genes, including GBE, CerS, Schlank, ADO, Bicaudal, and Tim29, which are potentially associated with glycogen and fatty acid metabolism for starvation resistance, substance transportation, and resistance. In addition, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified 421 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with 30 morphological traits in Apis cerana. These findings expand current understanding of the genetic response of honeybees in diverse environmental conditions and provide insight into how rocky desertification habitats shape insect morphology. This work offers a valuable reference for the molecular and morphological breeding of stress-resistant honeybee strains and provides a novel approach to restoring plant diversity in desertification habitats from a pollinator perspective.