重要传粉昆虫短头熊蜂体色模式多态性的分子机制

熊蜂的体色具有十分丰富的多态性，是研究形态特征适应性进化分子机制的理想模型。尽管控制体色变化的遗传学基础已得到初步解析，但目前尚缺乏对其遗传发育与分子机制的深入研究。短头熊蜂是我国南方地区重要的本土传粉昆虫，其体色模式变化丰富，具有熊蜂属常见的体色分化方式，是研究熊蜂体色模式多态性分子机制的理想类群。本项目将对短头熊蜂体色进行定量分析，并结合地理分布信息，明确其体色模式类型及地理分布规律。在此基础上，结合转录组学分析、RNA干扰等方法探究与体色分化相关的关键基因及其互作方式，初步解析其体色多态性的分子机制。研究结果将有助于理解熊蜂属昆虫体色多态性的调控机制，为这一重要传粉类群的形态鉴定、多样性保护与利用提供参考。

Bumble bees, with their exceptional level of color polymorphism, are well suited for informing mechanism driving adaptive phenotypic variation. Although genetic loci controlling bumblebee polymorphism has been recently explored, how genes control differentiation of color phenotypes in polymorphic bumble bees during development remains unclear. Bombus breviceps, an important local pollinator in South China, is a highly polymorphic species. Its different geographic populations exhibits most of the common types of bumble bee color pattern variation, making them excellent model to study underpinning molecular mechanisms of color polymorphism in these bees. In this project, we aim to understand color pattern polymorphism in B.breviceps and molecular mechanism control color switch on its abdominal segments. We will first define major color patterns of B. breviceps and their geographic distribution through morphological and statistical analysis on georeferenced specimens. We will then perform transcriptome analysis on critical color developmental stages to obtain genes likely involved in color differentiation. Then RNA interference will be performed to test function of promising candidate genes during color differentiation. These studies will enhance our understanding on molecular mechanism underlying color pattern polymorphism in bumble bees, and provide insights in identification and conservation of these important pollinators.