Behavioral Plasticity and Phylogenetic Constraint in the Social Evolution of Bumble Bees (Biology)

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Behavioral plasticity in social organization has been linked to the evolution of the strikingly different levels of sociality exhibited among the Hymenoptera (ants, bees, and wasps). This research will study this idea with comparative behavior and phylogeny of the bumble bee subgenus Fervidobombus. Species of Fervidobombus, by virtue of their inter- and intraspecific phenotypic diversity in social organization among widespread geographic populations, are ideal for testing hypotheses concerning the role of behavioral plasticity in social organization. The evolution of diversity in social traits within Fervidobombus can best be understood through explicit reference to phylogeny. If, for example, colony size and social organization are local adaptations (reflecting behavioral plasticity) to geographically varying environments, then it would be expected that the social traits and environmental variables would cluster together on the same branches of a phylogenetic tree. This hypothesis will be tested optimizing behavioral traits onto a phylogentic tree and testing for association. The proposed research will lead to new comparative data on Fervidobombus social organization and to the completion of a species phylogeny based on nucleotide sequences from the mitochondrial genome. Interactive activities include: (1) developing a modern graduate level systematics course; (2) developing a systematics laboratory for use as an interactive facility; and (3) developing a computer facility for use as a teaching and training tool. Additional interactions with students and faculty include an early career female-scientists seminar series and museum lunch.