Bucking the trend of pollinator decline: the population genetics of a range expanding bumblebee

Recent research has shown drastic reductions in the global diversity and abundance of insects. This is a major concern given the expected cascade effects on ecosystem services, such as pollination. Understanding the patterns and drivers of changes in the distribution and abundance of species in our...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Evolutionary ecology 2021-06, Vol.35 (3), p.413-442
Main Authors: Huml, J. V., Ellis, J. S., Lloyd, K., Benefer, C. M., Kiernan, M., Brown, M. J. F., Knight, M. E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abundance
Adaptiveness
Analysis
Animal Ecology
Bayesian analysis
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Bumblebees
Changing environments
Circadian rhythms
Colonization
Ecology
Ecosystem assessment
Ecosystem services
Environmental changes
Evolutionary Biology
Gene expression
Gene regulation
Genetic aspects
Genetic transcription
Genetics
Genomic analysis
Geographical distribution
Innate immunity
Insects
Life Sciences
Original Paper
Plant reproduction
Plant Sciences
Pollination
Pollinators
Population
Population decline
Population genetics
Range extension
Species
Statistics
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Summary:Recent research has shown drastic reductions in the global diversity and abundance of insects. This is a major concern given the expected cascade effects on ecosystem services, such as pollination. Understanding the patterns and drivers of changes in the distribution and abundance of species in our rapidly changing environment is therefore urgent. Cases of species showing trends that run counter to general population declines, especially when they deliver key ecosystem services, are especially interesting. The tree bumblebee ( Bombus hypnorum ), which belongs to a globally important group of pollinators, has substantially expanded its range in recent years in direct contrast to many other species within this group. Here we reconstructed the likely pattern of colonization of the UK based on RAD-seq population genomic data combined with Bayesian population modelling. This RAD-seq approach also enabled an analysis of genomic regions potentially under selection. We report a complex and dynamic colonization pattern that is most likely ongoing. Current evidence suggests that either a shift in its migration potential, and/or adaptive genomic changes have contributed to the recent range expansion of B. hypnorum . Genomic areas of potential adaptive significance included genes involved in regulation of transcription and gene expression, circadian rhythms and innate immunity. Our results are framed within the general context of understanding the factors driving successful population expansions.
ISSN:0269-7653
1573-8477
DOI:10.1007/s10682-021-10111-2