Comparative genomics suggests local adaptations in the invasive small hive beetle

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Genomics
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Invasive species significantly impact biodiversity, food security, and human health.
• Molecular mechanisms of adaptation in invasive parasitic species remain poorly understood.
• Small hive beetles (Aethina tumida) are invasive bee nest parasites with a global distribution.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the molecular basis of Aethina tumida adaptations to novel environments during invasion.
• Identify genes and genetic loci associated with adaptation in invasive populations.
• Understand the ecological and molecular factors driving local adaptation in invasive species.

Main Methods:

• Comparative genomics of historic and recent Aethina tumida adults from endemic and introduced ranges.
• Gene-environment association analysis to identify candidate adaptive loci.
• Functional annotation of identified genes to infer adaptive pathways.

Main Results:

• Identified 3049 candidate loci in 874 genes associated with adaptation.
• Detected significant enrichment of genes related to growth and reproduction.
• Found genes involved in apoptosis, organ size regulation, ovary activation, and oviposition, potentially explaining behavioral differences and local adaptation.

Conclusions:

• The study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the adaptation of invasive species.
• Identified genes related to growth, reproduction, and apoptosis are crucial for Aethina tumida's invasive success.
• Further functional studies on identified loci will elucidate local adaptation mechanisms in Aethina tumida.