Unlocking the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Genome: US Department of Agriculture and US Fish and Wildlife Scientists Unveil High-Resolution Map
Key Highlights :
The rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) is a native pollinator in the United States that has been on the brink of extinction for the past two decades. In 2017, the species was listed as an endangered species, and their population has declined by 87%. In an effort to bring the species back from the brink, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have released a detailed, high-resolution map of the rusty patched bumble bee's genome.
The genome map is part of the Beenome 100 project, a first-of-its-kind effort to create a library of high-quality, highly detailed genome maps of 100 or more diverse bee species found in the United States. The project is a collaborative effort between ARS and the University of Illinois, and it is hoped that this library will help researchers answer the big questions about bees such as what genetic differences make a bee species more vulnerable to climate change or whether a bee species is likely to be more susceptible to a pesticide.
The rusty patched bumble bee is an important pollinator of bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), milkweed, and other wildflowers, as well as crops such as cranberries, plums, apples and alfalfa. However, due to the loss of habitat, reduced variety of nectar sources, climate change, exposure to pesticides, and more pathogens and pests, the species has been in decline. Where rusty patched bumble bees were once common across the Upper Midwest and Northeast in 28 states and 2 Canadian provinces, now their range is down to disconnected spots in 13 states and one Canadian province.
The researchers used a small piece of abdominal tissue from a single male collected from a nest in Minnesota to construct the genome map. With the most cutting-edge equipment, the scientists were able to resolve an entire genome of 15,252 genes and 18 chromosomes from the tiny bit of tissue. Surprisingly, the researchers found that about 4.5 percent of the DNA sequenced came from Microsporidia, the fungal group that includes Varimorpha bombi, a fungal pathogen that has a detrimental impact on many rusty patched bumble bee populations.
Having this high-quality genome will support the identification of genetic differences between rusty patched bumble bee populations that appear to be doing well versus those in decline. This may give researchers a better understanding of the genetic basis of bumble bee behavior, physiology and adaptation to changing environmental conditions. Once the more successful genes for a particular type of local condition are identified, researchers will be able to give a population a boost in the right direction when it comes to restoring the rusty patched bumble bee to an area through captive breeding programs.
The research was published in the journal G3: Genes | Genomes | Genetics and the genome is available on the National Center for Biotechnology Information website. With the detailed information that researchers now have access to in this newly sequenced genome, there is an opportunity to find a whole different approach to strengthening rusty patched bumble bee populations. This is an important step in helping to preserve the species and ensure its long-term survival.
