Abstract: Apis cerana cerana is an indigenous bee species in China and the dominant pollinator in the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon National Nature Reserve, which is of great significance for maintaining the stability of ecosystems. However, with the introduction of A. mellifera ligustica, its impact on the survival of A. c. cerana and ecosystem in the reserve has received extensive attention. In this article, we explored the impacts of the introduction of A. m. ligustica on the native A. c. cerana and the ecological balance in Xizang, and proposed corresponding ecological conservation and restoration strategies. The introduction of A. m. ligustica poses multiple challenges to A. c. cerana, including weakening population competitiveness, decreasing reproductive efficiency, increasing the risk of disease cross-infection, and destroying the ecological balance, which are characterized by nectar competition for dominance, sexually induced interference, and pathogen transmission. However, the introduction of A. m. ligustica has also brought some positive benefits, such as promoting pollination of cash crops and improving crop yield and quality. In order to protect the advantages of native bee species and ecological balance, we proposed a series of ecological conservation and restoration strategies, including the delineation of A. c. cerana and A. m. ligustica breeding areas, standardization of beekeepers’ activities such as bee colony migrations, strengthening of the management of invasive species and the protection of native species, monitoring of biodiversity, and construction of an ecological compensation mechanism. These strategies aim to provide a scientific basis for decision-making by government departments, local farmers and all sectors of society, helping to promote the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable management of ecosystems in this region, and also offering a reference for the construction of ecological conservation development zones and the development of environment-friendly industries in China.

Key words: Apis cerana cerana; Apis mellifera ligustica, species introduction, biodiversity, ecological balance, Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon National Nature Reserve