EasyDiv Evolution of PollinAtor Immune SYstem DIVersity

To infer genetic variation in genes of the immune system of important pollinators, we sequence these in two common social bumblebee species (Bombus terrestris, B. lapidarius). We will infer intraspecific diversity to study the evolutionary forces acting on these genes. Both species differ in their effective population sizes, making selection more efficient in B. terrestris. Both species use a battery of behavioural adaptations to reduce pathogen loads, thereby reducing the selection coefficient on immune genes, resulting in relaxed constraint. To infer the effect of sociality, these genes will also be sequenced in related non-social species (B. vestalis, B. rupestris), which allow us to infer the consequences of sociality for genetic diversity and selection.