Wasp’s up? The molecular regulation of behavioural transitions in solitary wasps

Project Information

WASSUP

Grant agreement ID: 101028937

DOI

10.3030/101028937

Project closed

EC signature date 9 March 2021

Start date 15 January 2022

End date 14 January 2024

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 224 933,76

EU contribution

€ 224 933,76

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - WASSUP (Wasp’s up? The molecular regulation of behavioural transitions in solitary wasps)

Reporting period: 2022-01-15 to 2024-01-14

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

To understand the behaviour of animals, we need to use different approaches, from observing them and making predictions, or taking a step further and looking into their DNA. Each species of animal has their own genes and genomes (whole DNA molecules)’ the environment influences how genes are expressed, resulting in different kinds of behaviour. This project was focused ono studying insects, specifically solitary sand wasps. They are interesting because two closely related species - Ammophila sabulosa and Ammophila pubescens - show contrasting behaviours related to how they care for their brood. One is mass provisioning, meaning that they feed the brood enough for their development and, the other is progressive provisioning, in which the mother feeds the brood for as long as it is developing. This indicates that one species has an extended period of parental care, which can be important for more complex behaviours to occur. Nowadays, there are genomic techniques to obtain genomes for any species, bringing the possibility of studying behaviour at the level of genes, and to understand how and why some species behave in a certain way. The overall objective of WASSUP was to understand the ancestral origins of pre-social behaviour (solitary behaviour) and determine the adaptations that could give rise to more complex, social behaviours. Studying ancestral origins of pre-social behaviour is important for society in general, because can help us to understand how cooperation evolved in other animal taxa, including in humans. This project also combined different methodologies, including the study of behaviour in a classical way in the field, recording changes in morphology by analysing images from electron microscopy and sophisticated molecular approaches, including genome sequencing and transcriptome analyses.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

For this project, we conducted field work in the UK to collect the solitary wasps. We presented a draft genome of the solitary wasp A. pubescens as a tool to uncover the molecular mechanisms regulating the behavioural states through their nesting cycle. We determined the molecular bases of the different phases in the nesting cycle differences by comparing brain gene expression among nesting founding (NF), egg-laying (EL), inspection visit (Insp) and provisioning (Prov) females. To do this, we combine behavioural observations with RNAseq analyses of brains from individual wasps performing specific tasks (Oi et al. in prep).
Secondly, through Darwin Tree of Life, we aimed to assemble the genomes in PacBio HI-C of the two sphecid wasps Ammophila sabulosa and Ammophila pubescens (Oi et al. in prep). I also collected samples from A. sabulosa to provide a comparative transcriptomic analysis with A. pubescens. As A. sabulosa nest solitarily and not in an aggregation, behavioural observations were not possible; however, I collected both sexes for transcriptome and antenna morphology comparisons. These data combined permit a genomic/morphology assessment of the molecular processes underpinning the dynamics of the phenotypic plasticity in hunting and parental care.
The project also explored the evolution of behaviour of solitary wasps in general. I extended the research on other solitary wasps building genomes beyond the Crabronidae group, including Eumenidae, Pompilidae and Sphecidae (Oi et al. in prep) in order to have a comparative genomics analysis in a broader scale. Finally, the project included significant outreach activities, raising the public profile of wasps (through SoapBox Science) and enlisting scientists’ support to promote wasps, especially regarding to conservation actions. Despite their important role in ecosystems, wasps are among the least loved insects; we asked other researchers about their interactions with the media regarding bees and wasps and investigated the roots of this negative perception and possible ways to overcome the public opinion (Oi et al 2024, Insectes Sociaux). I followed the institution policy to make all publications open- access and deposit them in “UCL Discovery”, increasing the accessibility. I will share the data, including the genomes, in open databases and repositories as NCBI and GitHub.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Final analyses are still in progress; we were preparing at least three publications, which we aim to submit to high-profile, general journals. The high-quality genomic resources we have generated will be used in future projects; the project has also led to the formation of two further grants on related topics, We are continuing to disseminate our research to diverse lay audiences. This project has generated novel insights into fundamental questions on the behavioural ecology of solitary wasps and the evolution of parental care; it has also generated essential genomic tools and also training to kick-start new fields of study in the evolutionary and ecological importance of solitary wasps, providing exciting new tools to study them in the context of ecosystem services and conservation.

The sand wasp Ammophila pubescens carrying a caterpillar. Photo taken while doing field work.